Uber Partners with Cruise to Launch Self-Driving Cars in 2025
In an exciting development, Uber has announced that it will be launching a fleet of self-driving cars on its platform as early as next year. This ambitious plan is made possible by Uber’s multiyear partnership with Cruise, a self-driving car company based in San Francisco. The collaboration aims to offer customers the option to hail a Cruise robotaxi via the Uber app starting in 2025, provided that their region supports it.
So, how will these self-driving Uber rides work? Once the Cruise-based self-driving cars are rolled out, customers will have two options when they request a ride. They can choose to have their trip completed by a traditional human driver or opt for a self-driving car. Uber has revealed that Cruise’s autonomous vehicles will be modified Chevy Bolt vehicles.
Safety is a paramount concern when it comes to autonomous vehicles. It’s still too early to definitively say whether the Uber and Cruise autonomous vehicle launch will be safe. However, Cruise, which is owned by General Motors, did face a reputation setback in 2024 when one of its self-driving cars was involved in an accident with a jaywalking pedestrian in San Francisco. The incident occurred after the pedestrian was struck by a hit-and-run human driver. The woman survived, but the incident led to California blocking Cruise from operating in the state. Despite this incident, Cruise has been slowly returning to the market and has been conducting tests of its robotaxis in cities like Phoenix, Dallas, and Houston since April 2024.
Addressing concerns over safety, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi emphasized the rideshare giant’s commitment to customer safety. Khosrowshahi stated that Uber believes it can play an important role in safely and reliably introducing autonomous technology to consumers and cities worldwide. Cruise CEO Marc Whitten echoed this sentiment, stating that Cruise is dedicated to leveraging driverless technology to create safer streets and redefine urban life.
It’s interesting to note that this isn’t the first autonomous vehicle company that Uber has partnered with. Waymo, another prominent player in the self-driving car industry, has been available on the Uber app since October 2023 as part of a previous partnership. This demonstrates Uber’s commitment to exploring and embracing the potential of autonomous vehicles.
While the launch of self-driving cars on the Uber platform is still a few years away, this partnership with Cruise marks a significant step towards a future where autonomous vehicles become a common sight on our roads. As technology continues to advance and safety measures are refined, the prospect of self-driving Uber rides becomes increasingly tangible. With Uber and Cruise working together, we can anticipate exciting developments in the realm of autonomous transportation in the coming years.