Uber plans to offer robotaxis in over 10 markets by 2026

Uber plans to offer robotaxi services in over 10 markets by the end of 2026, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a Bloomberg Television interview.

Robotaxi services are currently available in the US and the Middle East, with possible expansion to Hong Kong and Japan under discussion.

Khosrowshahi said that Uber will focus on markets with established regulations for autonomous vehicles.

Uber has invested heavily in autonomous vehicle technology and partnered with Baidu in July to launch robotaxis in Asia and the Middle East.

In November, Uber announced plans to begin offering driverless rides in WeRide vehicles in parts of Abu Dhabi.

Khosrowshahi said Uber has sufficient capital to fund these initiatives.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles permit fully driverless robotaxi operations without safety drivers (human operators sitting in the vehicle). Abu Dhabi does too, where Uber and WeRide launched their first international robotaxi service in December 2024 1.
China leads commercial deployment with Baidu and WeRide in tier-1 cities 2 1. The UK’s Automated Vehicles Act 2024 allows Level 4 vehicles (high automation, no driver needed within defined zones) on public roads, and Uber plans trials there from spring 2026 with launch timing unclear 3.
Uber and WeRide expanded to Dubai in April 2025, and Baidu targets Abu Dhabi by 2026, hinting at UAE momentum 1. Japan and South Korea run pilots, so reaching 10+ markets likely requires counting those 1.

As robotaxis spread, cities face new needs 3. Those cover intelligent road infrastructure and dedicated AV zones, plus special markings and connectivity features under Beijing’s April 2025 city rules 3.
Vendors in mobility SaaS and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, plus providers of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems using 5G or cellular V2X (C-V2X), can bid on city and airport requests for proposals in 2025-2026 4. HD mapping, geofencing, signage, and systems integration firms can also compete 4.
At the US Army’s Fort Carson base in Colorado, an autonomous service vehicle pilot sought partners for airfield upkeep and equipment delivery 5. Cities that expand robotaxi permits may run RFPs for curb tools, charging sites, or remote supervision platforms.