As self-driving technology becomes more widespread, your next Uber ride could be driverless.
Uber’s new options for seniors
Uber has introduced a new feature to its app that provides an easier approach to booking rides for “seniors” and those who are less tech-savvy.
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- Uber has partnered with Amazon’s self-driving car company Zoox to offer robotaxi rides.
- The driverless ride-sharing service is expected to launch in Las Vegas and Los Angeles in mid-2027.
- Self-driving cars could account for 10% of ride-sharing by 2030, reducing opportunities for human drivers.
The next Uber driver could be the car itself.
Self-driving car technology is no longer the stuff of science fiction. In fact, self-driving cars are already ferrying passengers to and from their destinations on American roads.
Uber, the world’s largest ride-hailing company, is making a big bet on the future of self-driving vehicle transportation.
Let’s take a look at how this partnership could change ridesharing in the future.
Uber partners with Amazon’s self-driving car company to transform the ride-sharing experience
On March 11, Zoox and Uber Technologies, Inc. announced a strategic partnership to “deploy Zoox-exclusive robotaxis to Uber,” according to an Uber investor news release.
Zoox is a technology company that develops self-driving cars and is owned by Amazon. These vehicles are already active in the Las Vegas and San Francisco areas. The strategic partnership between the two brands is expected to launch in Las Vegas and Los Angeles in mid-2027.
Rideshare users will now be able to use Zoox robotaxis for eligible rides through the Uber app. According to a press release, these self-driving cars are “purpose-built for ride-hailing and designed with comfort, conversation, and connection with friends and family in mind.”
The partnership will accelerate the adoption of Zoox self-driving cars and allow Uber to keep up with rapidly evolving technology without having to develop its own self-driving cars from scratch. What does this mean for Uber drivers and rideshare riders?
The future of ride sharing could be self-driving
According to the 2026 Self-Driving Vehicle Impact Report prepared by data analysis firm Gridwise Analytics, by 2030, “self-driving ridesharing is expected to account for approximately 10% of total ridership.” Self-driving cars could account for a whopping 25% by 2035.
If Gridwise Analytics’ predictions are accurate, hundreds of thousands of ride-sharing vehicles will be self-driving within 10 years. This equates to fewer opportunities for drivers who make a living as independent contractors for Uber.
On the positive side, Uber’s decision to incorporate self-driving cars into its fleet could create several new jobs related to maintenance, service, and operations. Potential new categories include charging, customer support, and remote vehicle monitoring.
Hybrid rideshare vehicles are likely to become more prevalent over the next decade
It’s no secret that the self-driving car space is growing with companies like Google’s Waymo, Tesla’s Robotaxi, and Amazon subsidiary Zoox. Despite significant growth and investment in self-driving car technology, drivers cannot be completely replaced based on accidents or recorded incidents.
Self-driving cars may have gained millions of miles of cumulative driving experience in recent years, but they may still lack the discernment of the average driver in certain scenarios. Additionally, software bugs are not impossible, and technology is not foolproof.
Data from Gridwise Analytics predicts that 10 years from now, human drivers will still be in the rideshare business, although new roles will emerge and evolve over time.
The next Uber driver could be a self-driving car, but only if you believe in the technology and decide to give it a try.
