Uber is open to a partnership to bring Tesla’s newly unveiled Cybercab Robotaxi to Uber’s ride-sharing platform, according to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. The announcement follows Tesla’s recent unveiling of the Cybercab, a self-driving vehicle designed for ride-hailing services.
Uber CEO Khosrowshahi said:
“Obviously, competing with Elon Musk is no easy matter, and we take nothing for granted; we really want to partner with the autonomous industry.”
Tesla's Cybercab Robotaxi
The Cybercab is a two-seater, fully autonomous vehicle developed by Tesla. It was introduced as part of Tesla’s Robotaxi platform, aiming to revolutionize the ride-hailing industry by removing the need for human drivers. Although Tesla initially planned to launch its own ride-hailing service, the company maintains a strong relationship with Uber, which could result in a partnership for the Cybercab's deployment.
Khosrowshahi said:
"We’d love to have it on the platform, but if not, I don’t think this is going to be a winner-take-all marketplace. We believe in the spirit of partnership; we’ll see what Tesla does.”
Uber’s Interest in Tesla’s Autonomous Vehicles
During a Financial Times interview, Khosrowshahi expressed his enthusiasm for the potential collaboration, stating that he would "love to have the Cybercab Robotaxi on the platform." Uber has already integrated some Tesla vehicles into its platform, simplifying the driving experience for its partners. Khosrowshahi emphasized the importance of working together with the autonomous vehicle industry to foster future innovation.
Competition with Elon Musk
Khosrowshahi also discussed the challenges of competing with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, noting that it’s no easy feat. Despite acknowledging the competitive aspect, he emphasized Uber's interest in building partnerships within the autonomous driving sector.
"We believe in the spirit of partnership; we’ll see what Tesla does"
he remarked, indicating that Uber remains open to working with Tesla.
The Challenges of the Ride-Hailing Market
While Tesla boasts a strong brand and a successful track record in vehicle manufacturing, Khosrowshahi highlighted that success in the ride-hailing market is far from guaranteed. Uber has spent years and billions of dollars refining its ride-hailing business.
"It’s taken us 15 years, tens of billions of dollars of capital," he said, implying that the partnership could help both companies expand their reach in the autonomous vehicle market.
Uber’s Investment in Autonomous Technology
Uber is heavily invested in autonomous technology, with Khosrowshahi expressing his hope that Tesla could become one of Uber’s key partners in this domain. The partnership would allow Tesla to leverage Uber’s extensive platform to launch its Robotaxi service globally. Both companies could benefit from collaboration in the rapidly evolving autonomous vehicle sector.
About The Author
