Uber Invests $1.25 Billion in Rivian with Plans to Purchase Up to 50,000 Electric Vehicles for Robotaxi Service

• March 20, 2026

Uber Technologies is making a significant move to bolster its robotaxi plans by investing $1.25 billion in electric vehicle startup Rivian. The ride-hailing giant also committed to purchasing as many as 50,000 electric vehicles from Rivian, contingent on the development of autonomous driving software that meets Uber’s requirements for self-driving ride services.

Strategic Pivot in Autonomous Mobility

Several years ago, Uber halted in-house efforts to create its own self-driving technology, a shift reportedly influenced by legal challenges tied to fatal accidents involving its autonomous vehicle prototypes. Instead of developing autopilot systems internally, Uber is now turning toward partnerships to advance its robotaxi vision.

The new agreement with Rivian marks a milestone in this strategic pivot. Rather than competing in the complex autonomous vehicle space alone, Uber is leveraging Rivian’s electric vehicle expertise alongside expectations for scalable self-driving software. This collaboration enables Uber to expand its fleet with a large number of EVs specially designed for robotaxi deployment.

Although Uber will purchase up to 50,000 electric vehicles, the deal includes a critical condition requiring Rivian to deliver autonomous driving technology that aligns with Uber’s operational standards. This reflects the ongoing challenges in producing reliable and safe self-driving software that can be deployed commercially.

Rivian, known for its electric trucks and sport utility vehicles, stands to gain a substantial boost through this partnership, cementing its presence in the burgeoning autonomous mobility sector. The infusion of capital from Uber underscores confidence in Rivian’s potential to develop the technology needed to support future robotaxi fleets.

This deal also signals Uber’s commitment to expanding its electric vehicle offerings and transitioning away from traditional gasoline-powered cars, supporting broader sustainability goals. By acquiring a significant number of EVs through Rivian, Uber aims to modernize its transport network with cleaner, advanced vehicles.

Details about the exact timeline, pricing, or deployment locations of these autonomous electric vehicles were not disclosed. However, this strategic investment and procurement arrangement positions Uber to compete more effectively in the evolving autonomous ride-hailing market as technologies and regulations mature.

Overall, Uber’s $1.25 billion capital investment in Rivian and the conditional order for tens of thousands of EVs highlight its long-term approach to integrating electric and driverless vehicles into its platform, signaling a new chapter for the company’s automated mobility ambitions.

Uber commits $1.25 billion investment in Rivian and agrees to buy up to 50,000 EVs to support its robotaxi ambitions and autonomous ride services.