Uber aims to launch robotaxis in over 10 global markets by 2026

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Uber is intensifying its push into autonomous mobility, with CEO Dara Khosrowshahi confirming plans to roll out robotaxis in more than 10 global markets by 2026. The ride-hailing giant is collaborating with a variety of self-driving partners to integrate autonomous vehicles into its platform, focusing on areas where regulators are more receptive and infrastructure readiness is high.

This announcement reflects Uber’s long-term vision of cost reduction, driver shortage mitigation, and operational efficiency through automation. Khosrowshahi emphasized that Uber sees this as a “hybrid future” — combining human drivers and autonomous services — to better serve fluctuating demand and complex ride patterns.

Uber’s confidence in robotaxis stems from recent successful pilots in North America and Asia, where autonomous rides have yielded encouraging rider feedback and safety metrics. The company has already integrated autonomous services from Motional and Waymo in select cities, and is in discussions with other players in the self-driving ecosystem.

While regulatory approval remains a key variable, Khosrowshahi indicated that Uber’s diversified market approach and data-driven rollout strategy could allow it to scale robotaxi deployment more flexibly than competitors.

The announcement also comes amid growing competition in the autonomous space, with Amazon’s Zoox, Tesla’s FSD, and Alphabet’s Waymo expanding trials and partnerships globally. Uber’s strategy focuses on blending autonomy into its multi-modal ecosystem rather than building standalone fleets, giving it an advantage in adaptability and unit economics.