Uber Launches New Autonomous Vehicle Division to Boost Commercialization

Uber Autonomous Solutions aims to provide operational support for AV partners to accelerate robotaxi deployments.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Uber has launched a new division called Uber Autonomous Solutions that will provide operational support services to its partners in the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry. The division will handle tasks like data collection, fleet management, customer support, and regulatory compliance to help AV companies scale their robotaxi, self-driving truck, and sidewalk delivery robot businesses more quickly and cost-effectively.

Why it matters

Uber's move to become an operational partner for AV companies is both a strategic necessity and an opportunistic play. After selling off its in-house AV development unit in 2020, Uber has been building a network of partnerships with AV startups and tech firms. This new division is an effort to make Uber indispensable to these partners and protect its core ride-hailing and delivery businesses from being disrupted by autonomous vehicles.

The details

Uber Autonomous Solutions will provide a range of services to its AV partners, including software and support for fleet operations, demand generation, rider experience, customer support, and regulatory compliance. The company plans to help these partners scale robotaxi deployments to more than 15 cities by the end of 2026. Uber is also using a fleet of Lucid vehicles to collect mapping and training data that can be shared with its AV partners.

  • Uber announced the new Uber Autonomous Solutions division on February 23, 2026.
  • Uber plans to help its AV partners scale robotaxi deployments to more than 15 cities by the end of 2026.

The players

Uber Autonomous Solutions

A new division within Uber that will provide operational support services to the company's autonomous vehicle partners.

Sarfraz Maredia

Uber's global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, who will be leading the Uber Autonomous Solutions initiative.

Andrew MacDonald

Uber's President and Chief Operating Officer.

Lucid

An electric vehicle company that Uber is using to collect mapping and training data for its AV partners.

Uber ATG

Uber's former in-house autonomous vehicle development unit, which the company sold off in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“'AV tech teams should be able to focus on what they do best: building software that can safely power an autonomous world,'”

— Sarfraz Maredia, Uber's global head of autonomous mobility and delivery (techcrunch.com)

“'What's going to determine the success or failure of autonomous in the world is whether it can be commercialized, and Uber is going to be the thing that makes autonomy commercially viable,'”

— Andrew MacDonald, Uber President and COO (techcrunch.com)

What’s next

Uber plans to launch a robotaxi service with Volkswagen in Los Angeles by the end of 2026, although it won't be driverless until 2027.

The takeaway

Uber's new Autonomous Solutions division is a strategic move to position the company as an essential partner for AV companies, helping them scale their operations and commercialize their technologies more quickly. This initiative is crucial for Uber to protect its core ride-hailing and delivery businesses from being disrupted by autonomous vehicles.