Uber has announced plans to invest up to $1.25 billion in electric vehicle maker Rivian as part of a long-term partnership to develop and deploy autonomous robotaxis. The deal marks a significant step in Uber’s strategy to expand its presence in the self-driving mobility ecosystem.
Under the agreement, Uber will begin with an initial investment of around $300 million, with the remaining funding tied to Rivian achieving specific milestones in autonomous vehicle development through 2031. The partnership is centered around Rivian’s upcoming R2 electric SUV, which will be adapted into fully autonomous robotaxis.
In the first phase, Uber and its fleet partners are expected to deploy approximately 10,000 autonomous R2 vehicles starting in 2028, initially in cities such as San Francisco and Miami. These robotaxis will be available exclusively through the Uber platform.
The companies also have the option to scale significantly, with plans to expand the fleet to as many as 50,000 vehicles by 2031, including the potential purchase of an additional 40,000 units. The service is expected to gradually roll out across up to 25 cities in the US, Canada, and Europe.
For Uber, the deal reinforces its shift toward becoming a platform for autonomous mobility rather than building its own self-driving technology. For Rivian, the partnership provides both capital support and a large-scale commercial deployment opportunity as it pushes into the autonomous vehicle space.
The collaboration highlights intensifying competition in the robotaxi market, where companies are racing to combine electric vehicles with advanced AI-driven autonomy to reshape urban transportation.
