Uber to launch robotaxi services in Hong Kong, US, Europe

Uber Technologies plans to introduce robotaxi services in Hong Kong, Madrid, Houston, and Zurich, according to its latest earnings presentation.

Hong Kong will be Uber’s first robotaxi market in Asia Pacific.

The company aims to expand driverless vehicle offerings to over 10 markets globally by the end of 2026.

Specific launch dates and technology partners were not disclosed, but Uber said it will work with previously announced partners.

These include Baidu Inc., which has a license for small-scale driverless trials in Hong Kong, and WeRide Inc., which holds autonomous-driving licenses in parts of Switzerland.

Uber competes with Alphabet’s Waymo in several markets, including Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami.

The company has also announced plans to deploy autonomous vehicles in other cities such as London, Munich, and Los Angeles, through various partnerships.

🔗 Source: Bloomberg

🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Uber’s robotaxi plan grew out of an expensive setback

Uber moved toward partnerships after its in-house autonomous vehicle (AV) division fell short. The company put $2.5 billion into the effort before selling the unit in 2020 1.
The team built a car that could not go more than half a mile without hitting a problem. Uber then stopped trying to build its own AVs and shifted toward connecting riders with robotaxi operators through its app 1.
This leaner approach supports faster international rollouts, including launches in Hong Kong, Madrid, Houston, and Zurich. Uber also aims to reach more than 10 markets by the end of 2026, without carrying the heavy cost of owning and developing AVs. Waymo’s $5.5 billion R&D (research and development) spend, as cited by MarketsandMarkets, offers one example of that expense 2.
Uber said the approach is working in Austin. There, 20% of trips booked through Uber were fulfilled by Waymo robotaxis 1.

Robotaxi competition is sorting into a few global playbooks

The rollout underlines three competing models. Waymo runs an owned fleet that requires large spending. Tesla leans on consumer-owned vehicles. Uber operates as a platform that connects riders to partners 1.
Uber plans to team up with partners such as Baidu Inc. and WeRide Inc. Ride-hailing platforms can bring demand while autonomous-driving developers focus on lowering vehicle costs. Any cross-company cost comparisons and claims of “mature technology” need careful attribution 3.
The setup could help AV developers enter new markets through Uber while Uber deploys robotaxis faster. In the UK, Uber and Lyft have both announced partnerships with Baidu to trial robotaxis in London in 2026, pending regulatory approval 4.
Public unease remains a hurdle. A YouGov poll in October found that almost 60% of UK respondents said they would not feel comfortable riding in a driverless taxi under any circumstances 5.