Uber’s Robotaxi Ambitions Threaten to Leave Waymo in the Dust, Says Fund Manager

Uber is betting big on robotaxis, and one fund manager thinks the ride-hailing giant’s sheer scale will render Waymo irrelevant once fully autonomous rides go global. Gary Black, managing partner of The Future Fund LLC, called out what he sees as a “common misperception” that Uber is just an app. Instead, he argues Uber’s platform — with 200 million monthly active customers and 10 million active vehicles — dwarfs Waymo’s fleet of around 3,000 robotaxis.

Black’s point is clear: when Uber offers fully autonomous rides at costs comparable to Waymo’s, riders will have no reason to choose Waymo’s limited fleet. He emphasized Uber’s brand strength and operational leverage, which he says no standalone app can match.

Uber and Waymo have a visible partnership in some cities like Austin and Atlanta, where Waymo’s autonomous Jaguar I-PACE vehicles are accessible exclusively through the Uber app. But in key markets such as San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, Waymo runs its own app, competing directly with Uber.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi downplayed concerns about Waymo’s separate launches, noting during Uber’s first-quarter earnings call that their market position in these cities is actually stronger than six months ago. He highlighted Uber’s growing network of autonomous vehicle partners — including Rivian, Zoox, Motional, and Nvidia — with 10 new or expanded partnerships announced just in Q1 2026.

Uber’s strategy hinges on a hybrid fleet of human drivers and autonomous vehicles, leveraging its massive demand and supply infrastructure to unlock long-term value. The company currently offers autonomous rides in eight cities and aims to expand to up to 15 by the end of the year.

Investor enthusiasm is rising. Retail sentiment on Stocktwits surged from “bullish” to “extremely bullish” following Uber’s earnings and robotaxi updates. Some users see autonomous driving as a way for Uber to boost profits by cutting out driver costs.

Still, Uber’s stock has dropped about 9% over the past year, reflecting the high stakes and uncertainties in the race to dominate self-driving taxis.

This showdown between Uber’s sprawling platform and Waymo’s tech-focused fleet highlights the broader battle over the future of urban mobility — with billions of dollars and the fate of autonomous transportation on the line.