Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images
Cloud Computing
mercantilism
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
computer hardware
layoff
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
security system
societal
blank
Startups
TikTok
conveyance
speculation
More from TechCrunch
issue
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
picture
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
meet Us
Uber reported firm 2d - quarter results , with unadulterated bookings and last profit both up decent . But the company has choose to highlight the success of its autonomous fomite effort , likely to assuage investors touch about incoming rivalry from Tesla , which direct to bring out itsfirst robotaxi in October .
Uber enjoin in itssecond - fourth part resultant role statementthat the number of tripper performed by autonomous vehicles rose 6x from a yr sooner — up from what the company did n’t say . And , the first thing Uber highlighted in itspresentation deckwas AVs in a section title , “ Autonomous Vehicle Spotlight . ” It detail how the drive - hail and bringing giant has the right utilisation , consumer experience and go - to - market expertness to “ ram the enceinte value for AV partner . ”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk hasrepeatedly described Tesla ’s succeeding robotaxi networkas having a alike business model to Uber and Airbnb , where Tesla owners could tally their properly fit out vehicles to the carmaker ’s own ridesharing app . In place where there are n’t enough people to share their cars , Tesla would leave a consecrated fleet of robotaxis .
Uber noted in its investor deck of cards that have a hybrid connection of self-reliant and human drivers “ enables uniform , high - quality and honest consumer experiences across all geographies , 24/7 . ”
The company began partner with Waymo , Alphabet ’s autonomous fomite subsidiary company , in October 2023 to offerrobotaxi rides in Phoenix . That go on toautonomous deliveriesin the city in April .
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on Tuesday ’s earnings call that he ’s confident Uber will be able to “ acquire AV depicted object … on a global basis . ”
“ The fact is , this is not turn out to be a winner - take - all market , ” preserve Khosrowshahi . “ in the beginning , I suppose that was the concept , and why Uber wanted to develop the engineering science itself . ”
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Uber has had a checker past with AV development , one that ’s been sully bytrade secret theft allegationsanda fatal chance event . The society began its AV journeying in 2015 with a strategic partnership with Carnegie Mellon University ’s National Robotics Center , which became Uber Advanced Technologies Group ( ATG ) . A year later , Uber acquired a self - driving truck startup called Otto — a startup founded by one of Google ’s star engineers , Anthony Levandowski , along with three other Google old-timer — and then subsequentlyshuttered its trucking tech unitto focus on ego - force back railroad car .
Bringing Otto on board resulted in Waymo criminate Levandowski of stealing trade enigma , which were then used by Uber . The caseended in a liquidation in 2018 , and the following twelvemonth , Uber spun out Uber ATG after closing $ 1 billion in funding from Toyota . In 2020 , Uber sell off the subsidiary to autonomous vehicle inauguration Aurora Innovation .
Now , Uber ’s programme is firmly based in partnering with other Ab society , which is in line with the company ’s broader asset - Light Within patronage model .
Khosrowshahi take down Tuesday that every OEM is investing in some sort of L2 or L3 technology ( innovative driver assistance scheme that can palm some automatize driving labor ) . He also said that Uber conceive there will be many Ab providers as newer imitation get wind technologies take storage area and make a “ Modern undulation of AV ” at a “ well lower capital toll than was necessary historically . ”
“ If there are many , many Ab supplier , the market place — and our marketplace is by far the largest globose market place , from a mobility , delivery and then loading , as well — the market will have a very , very solid position , ” read Khosrowshahi .
Uber did not share how many autonomous trips it has performed in the second quarter or over the past year , but its count does n’t just fall to robotaxis .
The company has also partner with sidewalk delivery robot companiesServe Roboticsand , more late , Cartkento deliver food for thought autonomously on the Uber Eats meshwork .
Uber is also counting autonomous freightage shipments in the total AV stumble count . The company partner withAV trucking company Waabiin September 2023 , and the two companies have been doing commercial pilots between Dallas and Houston with a driver behind the bicycle for the last 11 month . More recently , Uber Freight signed a multiyear bargain withAurora Innovation , another AV trucking startup , that will see the latter ’s autonomous driving tech being offered on the Uber Freight electronic internet through 2030 .
None of the companies with active Uber partnerships — Waymo , Waabi , Serve — responded immediately to provide comment .
Uber say it would denote more details on its AV program in the coming calendar month .
That could include its recentdeal with BYDto bring 100,000 unexampled EVs onto the platform in Latin America , Europe , Canada , Australia and New Zealand . The tie - up will give drivers rebate on BYD fomite purchase or rentals , and the two companies will also collaborate on “ next BYD autonomous - capable fomite ” to be deployed on Uber ’s weapons platform .
“ BYD has committed to very , very significant investments in the AV space , ” say Khosrowshahi on Tuesday ’s earnings call . “ And pass judgment from what they have execute in the EV infinite , I would make a bet on them in AV , as well . ”
In June , BYD announced a$14 billion investmentin self-reliant vehicle engineering science .
Investor reply to Uber ’s results has been positive . Uber ’s shares were up 6 % in premarket trading at the fourth dimension of writing , and are climbing back to levels it deal on last Thursday , before the broader stock markets get wise .
Uber also reported better - than - expected stark booking in Q2 , which rose 19 % to $ 39.95 billion , slightly higher than the $ 39.7 billion predicted by analysts . In adapt term , Uber put down net profits of $ 1.57 billion , again forrader of the $ 1.5 billion that analysts picture . Uber also say quarterly operating profits hit a record .
Uber forecast third - quarter bookings between $ 40.25 billion to $ 41.75 billion , and state it expected headwinds to the tune of $ 400 million due to the late strengthening of the dollar compared to other currency .
