Uber Launches Robotaxi Service in Dallas: Growth Story Hotting up?

Core Insights - Uber Technologies has launched a new robotaxi service in Dallas, utilizing autonomous vehicles from Avride, a subsidiary of Nebius Group N.V. This move is part of Uber's strategy to expand in the self-driving vehicle market [1][8] Service Details - The robotaxi service in Dallas allows riders to be matched with an Avride robotaxi when requesting UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric, with no additional charge [2] - The initial coverage area for the service is a nine-square-mile region in Dallas, including Downtown, Uptown, Turtle Creek, and Deep Ellum, with plans for future expansion [3][8] Competitive Landscape - Uber already offers robotaxi services in Austin, Phoenix, and Atlanta through a partnership with Alphabet's Waymo, which has established commercial operations in multiple U.S. cities [4] - Additionally, Uber has launched a commercial robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi in collaboration with WeRide, marking the first driverless robotaxi offering in the Middle East [4] Strategic Implications - The introduction of driverless vehicles is expected to lower long-term trip costs, enhance reliability during peak demand, and create a scalable model for integrating more autonomous vehicle partners in new cities, thereby expanding Uber's market reach [5] Financial Performance - Uber's shares have increased by 39% over the past year, while the Zacks Internet-Services industry has seen a growth of 77.3% during the same period [6] - From a valuation perspective, Uber trades at a 12-month forward price-to-sales ratio of 3.16X, which is considered inexpensive compared to its industry peers [10] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Uber's earnings for the fourth quarter of 2025, first quarter of 2026, and full years 2025 and 2026 has seen upward revisions over the past 60 days [12]