Uber’s $1.25B Investment in Rivian: A Leap Towards 50,000 Electric Robotaxis
Uber Technologies has announced a significant partnership with Rivian Automotive, an electric vehicle maker. The company is committing to invest up to $1.25 billion by 2031 to deploy as many as 50,000 autonomous robotaxis across 25 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
The deal includes an initial investment of $300 million, which is subject to regulatory approval. Uber or its fleet partners are expected to purchase 10,000 fully autonomous Rivian R2 robotaxis. The companies aim to launch the first vehicles in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, with an option to purchase up to 40,000 additional vehicles starting in 2030.
The R2 robotaxis will be equipped with Rivian’s third-generation autonomy platform. This includes 11 cameras, five radars, one LiDAR sensor, and two of Rivian’s in-house RAP1 chips capable of 1,600 TOPS of AI compute performance. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi praised Rivian’s vertical integration approach, highlighting their control over vehicle design, software development, and manufacturing.
This partnership represents Uber’s latest strategic move in the autonomous vehicle space. It follows recent deals with Lucid Motors, Zoox, and other AV companies. The robotaxis will be available exclusively through Uber’s platform, marking a significant expansion of the company’s self-driving vehicle network.
Source: CNBC