In a strategic move to advance autonomous mobility without building its own self-driving cars, Uber has introduced AV Labs, a new division aimed at speeding up robotaxi technology through real-world testing.
Uber confirmed that AV Labs has started operations with a single sensor-equipped prototype vehicle. The company plans to scale selectively across cities where Uber already operates, which currently stands at around 600 locations. The goal is to gather real-world driving data that can support autonomous vehicle developers, including companies such as Waymo and Lucid Motors. By running tests alongside human-driven vehicles, Uber aims to help self-driving systems better manage complex environments like busy traffic zones, airports, and other challenging locations.
AV Labs began with a Hyundai Ioniq 5 fitted with advanced lidars, radars, and cameras. Uber stated that privacy remains a priority, as all shared footage is processed to blur faces and license plates before being provided to partners. The team behind AV Labs is expected to expand, with more professionals in AI, computer vision, and simulation joining in the coming months.
This initiative reflects Uber’s revised approach following its exit from in-house self-driving research. Instead of developing autonomous vehicles independently, the company is now focusing on partnerships and data collaboration. Recent efforts include agreements involving thousands of Lucid Gravity SUVs with Nuro, a large-scale vehicle data collaboration with NVIDIA, and ongoing partnerships with May Mobility and Avride. Together, these moves signal Uber’s intent to stay deeply involved in shaping the future of ride-hailing through autonomous technology.
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