Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle technology company WeRide have launched a commercial robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi .
Uber has partnerships with autonomous vehicle in various sectors, such as ride-hailing, package delivery , and trucking. Some of its most prominent partners include Wayve, Serve Robotics, Aurora Innovation, Waabi, and others.
See also: Lyft: Partnership with Mobileye & May Mobility for robotaxi services
But investors are wary of such moves, fearing that companies like Uber will not be able to compete with companies that build the technology, such as Waymo and potentially Tesla. On Thursday, Uber shares fell nearly 10% after Waymo announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in Miami. Meanwhile, Uber has announced a partnership with Waymo. Uber users in Austin and Atlanta will be able to use Waymo’s robotaxi, through the app, in early 2025.
See also: Elon Musk introduced the Cybercab robotaxi and Tesla Robovan
The robotaxi service will be launched on a small scale, an Uber spokesperson said. Neither Uber nor WeRide gave details on how many vehicles will initially be on Abu Dhabi roads. The initial rollout will be between Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, and along routes to and from Zayed International Airport. The service may expand to more areas later.
Initially, a human safety officer will be present in each vehicle . Driverless transport will begin later, in 2025
Uber and WeRide will partner with local Tawasul Transport to manage fleet operations.
See also: Uber: Collaboration with Avride for robotaxi and robot delivery services
Such partnerships highlight the importance of collaborations in the development and application of innovative technologies. By combining their expertise, these companies can accelerate progress towards a safer, more efficient transportation system that benefits both consumers and the environment.
Source: techcrunch.com
