Uber is spending $10 billion to deploy 120,000 robotaxis across 15 cities

Fifteen cities. 120,000 autonomous vehicles. Uber is placing a massive bet on a driverless future, pledging to spend roughly $10 billion over the next few years to become what its CEO calls "the world's leading commercialization platform for autonomous mobility."

Rather than building its own self-driving technology, Uber is positioning itself as the connector, linking AV startups to its 200 million-plus customers. That strategy got a boost this week when London regulators cleared 15 Wayve-operated Ford Mustang Mach-Es to carry passengers on public roads with a safety driver aboard. Wayve CEO Alex Kendall called it "the UK's first license for AV technology to operate," with rides for Londoners expected "in a matter of weeks."

Uber's stock is down 13% so far in 2026, as investors worry robotaxis could cannibalize its human-driver model. But the company points to record free cash flow of $2.8 billion last quarter as proof it can afford the gamble.