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TechCrunch Mobility: Uber enters its assetmaxxing era
Uber is transitioning into an 'assetmaxxing' era, investing over $10 billion in autonomous vehicles, including $7.5 billion for robotaxis. Unlike its past approach, it now focuses on owning physical assets rather than developing technology in-house. This shift reflects a strategic pivot, reminiscent of earlier ventures into asset-heavy projects, as the company aims to enhance its role in the autonomous transport sector.
Key points
- Uber has committed more than $10 billion towards autonomous vehicles.
- $2.5 billion is for direct investments, while $7.5 billion is earmarked for robotaxi purchases.
- Recent investments include companies like WeRide, Lucid, Nuro, and Rivian.
- Historically, Uber had a brief asset-heavy phase between 2015-2018, which included ventures like Uber Elevate and Uber ATG.
- Uber previously divested some of its asset-heavy ventures but maintained equity stakes.
- The current strategy differs by focusing on ownership of physical assets instead of in-house development.
Why it matters
- The trend of investment in autonomous vehicles aligns with the 2025 IT goal of increased integration of AI across industries.
- Historically, Uber's pivot mirrors broader trends of tech companies becoming asset-heavy to secure control over emerging technologies.
- Current discussions about military procurement modernization ties into the growing emphasis on efficient logistics and transport solutions.
Uber's new asset-heavy strategy highlights a significant shift in its operational focus, aiming to secure its position in the competitive autonomous vehicle market while drawing lessons from past experiences.