Uber Technologies Inc. and Rivian Automotive Inc. announced Thursday a landmark strategic partnership under which Uber will invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian to accelerate the deployment of 10,000 fully autonomous Rivian R2 SUVs as robotaxis on the Uber platform beginning in 2028.
The deal includes an initial $300 million investment from Uber, with the remaining amount to be funded through 2031 contingent on Rivian achieving specific autonomous-driving milestones. The companies stated that, if all milestones are met, thousands of unsupervised Rivian R2 robotaxis could be operating across 25 cities in the United States, Canada, and Europe by the end of 2031.
The R2 robotaxis will be available exclusively on Uber’s platform, with initial deployments planned for San Francisco and Miami. Uber retains the option to purchase up to 40,000 additional autonomous R2 vehicles starting in 2030.
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Rivian, best known for its R1S SUV and R1T pickup, has not yet launched a robotaxi service but unveiled its first custom autonomous-driving computer chip in December 2025. The company is preparing to begin deliveries of its smaller, more affordable R2 SUVs this quarter, with the autonomous variant forming the backbone of the Uber partnership.
Rivian Adjusts Profitability Timeline Amid Accelerated Autonomy Investment
Rivian disclosed that it no longer expects to achieve adjusted core profit (adjusted EBITDA breakeven) in 2027, citing increased research and development spending to fast-track its self-driving roadmap.
“We believe this was widely expected. We do still expect Rivian to achieve breakeven EBITDA in 2028, with positive free cash flow in 2030. We believe Uber’s initial investment will cover the additional R&D spend,” BNP Paribas analyst James Picariello said.
Rivian shares pared earlier gains of nearly 12% and were last up about 1% in afternoon trading, reflecting a mixed investor reaction to the delayed profitability target offset by the major commercial partnership.
Uber’s Multi-Operator Robotaxi Marketplace Strategy
The Rivian deal strengthens Uber’s positioning as a neutral marketplace for multiple robotaxi operators rather than a single-provider fleet owner. Uber has already partnered with Waymo (Alphabet), Baidu, and Lucid for autonomous ride-hailing, and is collaborating with Nvidia on AI and simulation platforms to support the development and scaling of robotaxi systems across partners.
Interest in driverless taxis has surged in recent months after years of delays and missed timelines. Waymo currently operates approximately 2,500 robotaxis across several U.S. cities and has accelerated rollouts, while Tesla launched a small robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, with CEO Elon Musk promising rapid expansion in 2026.
The Uber-Rivian partnership comes amid accelerating momentum in the autonomous vehicle sector, driven by breakthroughs in AI, sensor fusion, and simulation. Rivian’s focus on purpose-built autonomous R2 vehicles positions it as a challenger to established robotaxi players like Waymo and Cruise (GM), while leveraging Uber’s massive ride-hailing network for rapid scaling.
The deal also comes amid heightened investor focus on commercialization timelines and capital efficiency. Rivian’s earlier profitability guidance had been closely watched; the delay to 2028 EBITDA breakeven pinpoints the heavy R&D investment required to achieve Level 4/5 autonomy at scale.
The agreement diversifies Uber’s autonomous options beyond Waymo while securing a high-volume, long-term vehicle supply from Rivian — a critical hedge against potential supply constraints in the robotaxi race.
Market Reaction and Analyst Views
Rivian shares showed resilience despite the profitability delay, with the Uber investment seen as providing crucial capital and a credible path to high-volume commercial deployment. Uber shares traded modestly higher, denoting optimism about its multi-operator strategy in a market increasingly viewed as winner-take-most.
Analysts view the partnership as a validation of Rivian’s technology roadmap and Uber’s marketplace approach. The 10,000-vehicle commitment — with an option for 40,000 more — represents one of the largest robotaxi fleet commitments to date, underscoring confidence in Rivian’s ability to deliver purpose-built autonomous vehicles at scale.
The Uber-Rivian deal marks a pivotal moment in the commercialization of autonomous ride-hailing. If Rivian meets its autonomy milestones and successfully launches unsupervised R2 robotaxis in 2028, the partnership could significantly accelerate the transition to driverless mobility in major U.S., Canadian, and European cities.
However, analysts note that for the partnership to excel, Rivian must deliver reliable Level 4 autonomy at scale while managing capital burn, while Uber must integrate multiple robotaxi providers into a seamless marketplace experience. The outcome is expected to play a huge role in determining whether autonomous ride-hailing can move from pilot programs to widespread adoption — potentially transforming urban mobility, reducing costs for riders, and reshaping the economics of transportation in the process.