Uber Technologies has announced a strategic partnership with self-driving startup May Mobility to deploy thousands of autonomous vehicles on its ride-hailing platform across various U.S. cities, beginning with Arlington, Texas, by late 2025. This collaboration marks a significant step in Uber’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the burgeoning robotaxi market, where it faces competition from companies like Lyft and Tesla.
May Mobility, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been operating in Arlington since 2021. The initial deployment will involve Toyota Sienna hybrid minivans equipped with safety drivers, with plans to transition to full autonomy over time. The company has raised over $380 million in funding, with backing from major automotive players such as Toyota and BMW.
This partnership is part of Uber’s broader strategy to expand its autonomous vehicle collaborations. The company has recently teamed up with Waymo, China’s WeRide, and Avride to enhance its autonomous offerings. Meanwhile, Tesla plans to launch its Cybercab robotaxi service in Austin later this year, with production starting in 2026.
Despite the growing interest in autonomous vehicles, analysts caution that engineering and regulatory challenges remain. The U.S. government is easing some safety requirements to support the deployment of autonomous vehicles while maintaining strict incident reporting mandates. May Mobility is also working with Lyft on a similar initiative in Atlanta, Georgia, further indicating the industry’s push towards autonomous ride-hailing services.
As Uber and May Mobility move forward with their plans, the success of this partnership could significantly influence the future of urban transportation in the United States, potentially ushering in a new era of autonomous mobility.