Uber accelerates its thrust in autonomous mobility, with plans to evolve its hybrid network of autonomous vehicles and human -oriented in the world. Speaking at a press conference, Andrew Macdonald, vice-president of mobility and commercial operations in Uber, underlined the growing commitment of the company to autonomous technology and how its platform can help bring autonomous vehicles to the masses.
In December 2024, Uber launched trips of autonomous vehicles in Abu Dhabi in partnership with Weride, marking its first autonomous deployment outside the United States. Weride has since described its plans to extend its fleet from the Middle East to 50 autonomous vehicles by mid-2010, an important step for the region. On the delivery plan, Uber is also alive in 11 cities with six AV partners, strengthening its presence in the automated logistics space.
Macdonald stressed that if autonomous vehicle technology (AV) is growing rapidly, large -scale marketing still requires several key elements to align. “It’s not just about technology; A superhuman superhuman security file, regulatory approvals, evolving operations, profitable equipment and high use network are all essential for success, “he said.
A major challenge in the adoption of AV is the unpredictable nature of driving demand, which fluctuates per hour, week and season. A fully autonomous fleet without flexibility could lead to either underused vehicles during the hours excluding wells or an unreliable network during the peak request.
This is where Uber’s Av-Human Hybrid driver model plays a crucial role, allowing autonomous cars to operate effectively while human drivers fill the gaps on demand.
“Autonomous companies are faced with major obstacles to meet variable demand. The partnership with Uber gives companies with access to a flexible and high network, helping them to market much faster than they could by themselves, “said Macdonald.
