Uber CEO Warns The 'Biggest Factor' In AV Growth Is Affordability, As Significant Scaling Could Take 10-20 Years - Uber Technologies (NYSE:UBER)

Core Insights - The CEO of Uber Technologies Inc., Dara Khosrowshahi, emphasized the importance of affordability and safety standards in the growth of autonomous vehicles [2][4] - Khosrowshahi predicts that it will take 10 to 20 years for autonomous vehicles to significantly impact the ride-hailing business, especially outside high-fare markets [3] - Despite current challenges, the future of autonomous vehicles appears promising, with positive stock performance following advancements in technology [7][8] Cost and Adoption Challenges - Khosrowshahi highlighted that the current cost of autonomous vehicles exceeds $100,000, which is a barrier to widespread adoption [2] - Many existing autonomous vehicles do not meet the necessary computing capacity for safety standards, limiting their deployment in the near term [2] Technological Developments - Uber is actively developing autonomous vehicle technology, with plans to launch a robotaxi service in Dallas by December 2025 [5] - The company renewed its partnership with TomTom in January 2026 to enhance routing and location services for its autonomous vehicles [6] Market Performance - Uber's stock has shown a 25.26% increase over the past year, reflecting a mixed performance in growth and momentum rankings [8]