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Uber Technologies is positioning itself for a profound transformation in its business model, with expectations that autonomous vehicles could execute the majority of trips on its platform within the next 15 to 20 years. The move reflects the company’s growing commitment to self-driving technologies as a core pillar of its long-term strategy.

Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi stated that widespread reliance on robotaxis is likely over the coming two decades, provided technological progress continues and regulatory frameworks evolve accordingly. He noted that the shift will depend on advancements in artificial intelligence, sensor systems, and fully autonomous vehicle design, alongside the modernization of traffic laws and the development of supportive infrastructure.

To accelerate progress, Uber has established a specialized global unit dedicated to coordinating its autonomous vehicle initiatives and partnerships. This comes amid intensifying competition in the U.S. market, where major technology and electric vehicle companies are racing to dominate the robotaxi segment.

The competitive landscape is led by Alphabet Inc., whose subsidiary Waymo continues expanding its driverless services across several American cities. Meanwhile, Tesla Inc. is scaling investments in full self-driving capabilities with the aim of deploying a large autonomous fleet. Zoox is also advancing its own purpose-built robotaxi solutions.

Although projections indicate strong growth potential for the autonomous vehicle sector, analysts expect it to represent only a modest share of the overall ride-hailing market by the end of the decade. This suggests that a full transition away from human drivers will require sustained technological, regulatory, and consumer readiness.

The evolution toward robotaxis could significantly reshape cost structures and operational models in the mobility sector. However, the ultimate pace of transformation will hinge on innovation speed, legal clarity, and user trust in fully autonomous systems.