Invezz·2026-03-19 13:41Core Insights - Uber Technologies is partnering with Rivian Automotive to invest up to $1.25 billion for a large-scale robotaxi rollout, aiming to deploy 50,000 autonomous vehicles by 2031 [1][2][3] Investment Structure and Fleet Plans - The partnership begins with an initial investment of $300 million from Uber, pending regulatory approval, with additional funding released in phases as milestones are met through 2031 [3][4] - Uber and its partners plan to purchase 10,000 autonomous versions of Rivian's upcoming R2 electric vehicle, with an option to expand by up to 40,000 additional robotaxis starting in 2030 [3][4] Rollout Across Global Cities - The companies aim to introduce robotaxi services in 25 cities across the US, Canada, and Europe, with initial deployments in San Francisco and Miami planned for 2028 [5][6] - The vehicles will be available exclusively through Uber's platform, centralizing management, pricing, and operations [5] Broader Industry Momentum - The partnership reflects a renewed push in the robotaxi sector, with companies revisiting previously delayed timelines due to advancements in AI and computing power [2][10] - Rivian has strengthened its position through a $5.8 billion software partnership with Volkswagen, enhancing its technology stack for autonomous operations [11] Rivian's Autonomy Push - Rivian is developing its own autonomy technology, including the RAP1 inference platform and a multi-modal perception system, to support large-scale autonomous deployment [8][9] - The company is leveraging data from its consumer vehicle fleet to improve machine learning models for the R2 platform [9]