Uber Technologies has announced a new partnership with May Mobility, a startup focused on self-driving technology. This collaboration aims to introduce thousands of self-driving vehicles to Uber’s ride-hailing service across various U.S. cities, starting in Arlington, Texas, by late 2025.
This move is part of Uber’s strategy to strengthen its position in the competitive robotaxi market, where it faces rivals like Lyft and electric vehicle maker Tesla. Last year, Uber expanded its partnership with Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, and also formed new partnerships with WeRide and Avride, highlighting its commitment to developing autonomous taxi services.
May Mobility, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been operating in Arlington since 2021. The company will initially deploy gasoline-electric hybrid Toyota Sienna minivans, which will have safety drivers on board before transitioning to fully autonomous operations. May Mobility has raised over $380 million from investors, including major automotive companies like Toyota and BMW.
In a related development, Tesla recently unveiled its Cybercab robotaxi concept, with plans for production in 2026 and a service launch expected in Austin, Texas, later this year. However, experts warn that creating reliable self-driving systems presents significant engineering and regulatory challenges.
The U.S. government is supporting the rollout of autonomous vehicles by easing certain safety regulations while still requiring mandatory incident reporting. This regulatory environment may help pave the way for the broader adoption of self-driving technology in the ride-hailing industry.
May Mobility has also partnered with Lyft to launch self-driving taxis in Atlanta, Georgia, starting this year. As the landscape of ridesharing continues to evolve, the collaboration between Uber and May Mobility marks a significant step toward the future of transportation.