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Uber says it plans to spend $10 billion to bring 2,000 robotaxis to its global platform by the end of 2027, across 20 cities. Waymo already operates about 4,000 vehicles, according to the source report, and has a much larger expansion target. Uber’s plan depends on partners scaling driverless commercial service; its funding and rollout details remain partly unsettled.
Uber says it plans to spend $10 billion to bring 2,000 robotaxis to its global platform by the end of 2027, with roughly half intended for the United States. The target would expand Uber’s driverless ride business across 20 cities, but it remains far below Waymo’s reported fleet and its own expansion goals.
Uber disclosed the target alongside its third-quarter earnings. The company said the remaining roughly 1,000 vehicles would be distributed among Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It expects to have 700 robotaxis on its platform by the end of this year. The plan relies on partners including May Mobility, Momenta, Zoox and Motional, among others, moving vehicles from development and testing into commercial driverless service.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described the strategy as entering a new phase as partners expand commercial operations. Uber also said its partners have committed to bringing 120,000 robotaxis onto its platform in coming years, but it did not provide a timetable for that larger figure. The company plans to fund its robotaxi effort from earnings, while saying it may seek third-party capital if the fleet grows beyond 10,000 vehicles.
The comparison with Waymo highlights the scale of the challenge. InsideEVs reported that Waymo had around 4,000 vehicles on the road and operated in 15 U.S. cities. The report also cited a Semafor account of Waymo’s goal to reach 8,000 vehicles by year-end and 20,000 by the end of 2027. These are reported fleet figures and targets, not independently verified totals in the material provided.
Uber’s Scale-Up Depends on Partners
The plan matters because Uber is seeking to add autonomous rides to a large existing marketplace without building its own driverless vehicle operation alone. Its partner-led approach could let the company offer robotaxi rides in more places if suppliers secure approvals, build fleets and operate commercial services at scale. The stated 20-city footprint is a goal, not confirmation that service will launch in every city on that schedule.
Waymo’s reported lead creates competitive pressure, particularly as Uber’s relationship with the autonomous-vehicle company is expected to change. In Austin and Atlanta, riders currently use Uber to request some Waymo rides. The source report says Waymo plans to end its exclusivity arrangement with Uber in those cities in January 2028. If that happens, Uber will need other partnerships to support its autonomous offering while Waymo pursues a separate path to customers.
Uber reported $59.8 billion in gross bookings, up 20% year over year, according to the source report. That provides scale for its stated investment plan, but gross bookings are not the same as available cash or a detailed financing commitment. The company’s spending pace, partner contributions and the cost of operating across multiple regions have not been fully explained.
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From Testing to Paid Robotaxi Rides
Uber has assembled partnerships with multiple autonomous-vehicle companies rather than relying on one developer. Its stated strategy is to connect partner-operated vehicles with Uber’s ride-booking platform as those partners move from testing into commercial service. The approach makes rollout dependent on each partner’s technology, local operating permissions and ability to supply vehicles.
Waymo is both a competitor and, for now, an Uber partner in some markets. According to the source report, riders in Atlanta and Austin can request a Waymo vehicle through Uber. Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana told Bloomberg that the company plans to end its exclusivity arrangement with Uber in those cities in January 2028. Mawakana described the rider experience as uncertain because customers could not know in advance whether they would receive a robotaxi or a human-driven car.
“Our autonomous strategy is entering an important new phase as more of our partners move from development and testing into driverless commercial service.”
— Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, in written remarks shared alongside the company’s third-quarter earnings
Rollout, Funding and Fleet Counts
Uber has not named all 20 planned cities or provided a city-by-city launch schedule. It also has not detailed how the $10 billion investment will be divided among vehicle purchases, partner payments, operations and other costs. The company says third-party capital may be needed if its fleet exceeds 10,000 vehicles, but has not said whether or when it would seek that funding.
The partner commitment of 120,000 robotaxis has no stated deadline, and the source material does not specify how many vehicles would be operating commercially at any point along the way. Permits, safety requirements, vehicle availability and service reliability could affect the pace of expansion. Waymo’s fleet counts and future targets are attributed to reporting in the source, and the materials do not establish whether those goals have since changed.
Milestones Through 2027
The next near-term benchmark identified by Uber is its plan to have 700 robotaxis on its platform by year-end. The company will then need to show how quickly its partners can launch or expand commercial service and how that activity is divided across the planned markets. Updates on individual partnerships, city launches and funding would clarify whether the 2027 target is on track.
Another milestone is the reported end of Waymo’s exclusivity arrangement with Uber in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028. Until then, the companies’ relationship remains both competitive and collaborative in those markets. The schedule and terms of any change, and the effect on customer access through Uber, remain to be seen.
Key Questions
What is Uber’s robotaxi target?
Uber says it plans to spend $10 billion to bring 2,000 robotaxis to its platform by the end of 2027, across 20 cities. It expects roughly half the fleet to serve the United States.
How many robotaxis does Uber plan to have this year?
Uber’s stated target is 700 robotaxis on its platform by the end of this year. The source material does not give a breakdown of how many are already operating commercially.
How does Uber’s target compare with Waymo’s?
The source report puts Waymo’s fleet at around 4,000 vehicles and cites targets of 8,000 by year-end and 20,000 by the end of 2027. Those figures are attributed to reporting and should be distinguished from confirmed future results.
Will Uber stop offering Waymo rides?
Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana told Bloomberg that the company plans to end its exclusivity arrangement with Uber in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028. The source material does not describe the full terms or what customer access will look like afterward.
How will Uber pay for the expansion?
Uber says it expects to fund the effort from its earnings and may bring in third-party capital if its self-driving fleet grows beyond 10,000 vehicles. It has not published a detailed financing breakdown.
Source: insideevs.com
