Uber Lobbies for Robotaxis on Its App
Uber could not build a winning robotaxi, so it is lobbying instead. In Washington DC and New Jersey, it wants laws forcing driverless cars to share a platform with human drivers, effectively slowing down competitors like Waymo and giving Uber a significant advantage.
A "Hybrid Network" Plan
- Washington DC and New Jersey: Uber is pushing for what it calls a “hybrid network” where robotaxis must operate alongside human drivers on the same app.
- Impact: This would create a gate that every rival robotaxi service would have to pass through.
The Arguments
Uber argues that a purely autonomous vehicle (AV) market would give Waymo a monopoly and put human drivers out of work. Its policy chief, Javi Correoso, stated that one driverless car displaces approximately four human drivers. They are advocating for the right of consumers to choose between AV and human-driven rides.
The Opposition
Waymo supports a bill in DC that would allow fully autonomous fleets, while Uber opposes certain aspects of it. Critics argue that Uber’s proposed solution is worse because it restricts competition. Greg Rogers from think tank The Innovation Majority called Uber’s plan an attempt at "regulatory capture."
Uber’s Position
Uber’s chief product officer, Sachin Kansal, admits the company is "not in the race to be an L4 autonomy provider". Instead, they are "laying down the race tracks" for a hybrid network of humans and robots within the same city. Through its AV Labs unit, Uber is collecting vast amounts of driving data from hundreds of cars, which it can share with competing AV firms. Controlling the road means controlling the data that flows from it.
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