Tesla and Uber may soon join forces to bring Tesla’s newly unveiled Cybercab Robotaxi to Uber’s ride-sharing platform, according to Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Khosrowshahi shared his hopes of working closely with Tesla to integrate the autonomous Cybercab into Uber’s network.
Last week, Tesla introduced its Robotaxi platform, unveiling the futuristic Cybercab, a sleek two-seater self-driving vehicle designed specifically for ride-hailing. While Tesla has plans to launch its own ride-hailing service, the company already has a well-established relationship with Uber, having integrated Uber’s app into some Tesla vehicles, making life easier for Uber drivers.
Uber CEO on Tesla Partnership: “Competing with Elon Musk is no easy matter“
Khosrowshahi expressed his optimism about Tesla’s potential role in Uber’s future, stating that he’d “love to have [the Cybercab Robotaxi] on the platform.” He highlighted the importance of partnerships in the growing autonomous vehicle industry, signaling that Uber is open to collaboration, particularly with Tesla.
In the interview, Khosrowshahi acknowledged the challenge of competing with Elon Musk, saying, “Obviously, competing with Elon Musk is no easy matter, and we take nothing for granted; we really want to partner with the autonomous industry.” He emphasized that Uber sees the ride-hailing market as one where collaboration, not competition, will drive success, especially with emerging technologies like Tesla’s Robotaxi platform.
The Future of Ride-Sharing and Autonomous Vehicles
Tesla’s strong brand recognition and innovative approach to self-driving vehicles make it a key player in the evolving autonomous ride-sharing sector. However, Khosrowshahi noted that ride-sharing is a challenging business to succeed in, even for a company as successful as Tesla.
“It’s taken us 15 years. It’s taken us tens of billions of dollars of capital, and we can provide that instantly to a partner. Hopefully, Tesla will be one of those partners,” Khosrowshahi said, referring to Uber’s long journey to profitability and the immense resources it can offer in a potential partnership.
A Potential Partnership on the Horizon
While Tesla has yet to confirm any official partnership with Uber regarding the Cybercab, Khosrowshahi’s statements indicate that discussions are ongoing. A collaboration between the two giants could accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles on Uber’s platform and allow Tesla to leverage Uber’s established network of drivers and customers worldwide.
If the partnership comes to fruition, Tesla’s autonomous Robotaxi platform could soon be seen on ride-sharing apps across the globe, bringing driverless rides to a market ready for the next wave of innovation. Whether or not Tesla chooses to go it alone, it’s clear that the future of ride-sharing will involve increasing levels of automation—and companies like Tesla and Uber may just lead the charge.
