Uber robotaxi expansion accelerated on Dec. 3 in Dallas, where riders can be matched with Avride autonomous cars. Uber says it expects AV deployments in at least 10 cities by the end of 2026, building on live services with Waymo and WeRide.
What Uber launched in Dallas
Uber says Dallas riders who request UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with an all-electric Avride robotaxi at no additional cost. Riders get a prompt each time and can switch to a non-AV ride if they prefer.
At launch, the service covers about 9 square miles spanning Downtown, Uptown, Turtle Creek, and Deep Ellum, with plans to expand. Uber also says an on-board specialist will monitor from behind the wheel at first, before fully driverless operations begin later.
Where Uber already offers robotaxi rides
Uber’s current robotaxi footprint is built around a “partner-first” model: Uber supplies the marketplace and customer experience, while autonomous driving developers supply the self-driving system and vehicles.
A November 2025 Uber post for drivers lists AV availability in parts of Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, and Phoenix.
Austin: Waymo rides inside the Uber app
Uber says it began rolling out a limited number of Waymo autonomous vehicles on the Uber app starting March 4, 2025.
Uber also says that, at launch, Waymo trips in Austin span 37 square miles (including areas such as Hyde Park, Downtown, and Montopolis), and riders can increase the chance of a match by opting in via ride preferences.
Atlanta: Waymo rides expand the partnership
In Atlanta, Waymo robotaxis became available through the Uber app with a 65-square-mile operating area that includes neighborhoods like Downtown and Buckhead, with some operating limits (such as not using highways in early service).
Abu Dhabi: Uber’s first dedicated “Autonomous” category
Outside the U.S., Uber and WeRide announced Level 4 fully driverless commercial robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi starting Nov. 26, 2025, beginning on Yas Island. The companies said the launch was supported by a city-level fully driverless robotaxi permit and introduced Uber’s first dedicated autonomous ride option (“Autonomous”) globally.
Uber’s stated goal: at least 10 cities by end-2026
Uber has said it expects autonomous vehicle deployments on its network in at least 10 cities by the end of 2026—a target that would require multiple new launches beyond today’s active markets.
What makes that goal plausible is the number of partnerships Uber has signed across regions and use cases—some already live, some announced for 2026.
The partnership pipeline Uber is building for 2026 and beyond
Lucid + Nuro: a 20,000+ “Uber-native” robotaxi program
Uber, Lucid, and Nuro announced a next-generation robotaxi program designed exclusively for Uber, with Uber aiming to deploy 20,000+ Lucid vehicles equipped with the Nuro Driver over six years. The first launch is planned for late 2026 in a major U.S. city, and the vehicles are expected to be owned and operated by Uber or its third-party fleet partners.
WeRide: 15 additional cities over five years (outside U.S. and China)
Uber and WeRide announced an expansion that adds 15 additional cities globally over the next five years, including in Europe, following activity in places like Abu Dhabi and plans that include Dubai. Uber said it would be responsible for fleet operations in those cities.
Momenta: Europe deployment starting in early 2026
Uber and Momenta announced a strategic agreement to introduce autonomous vehicles to Uber in international markets outside the U.S. and China, with the first deployment in Europe at the beginning of 2026, initially with onboard safety operators.
May Mobility: Arlington, Texas planned by end of 2025
Uber and May Mobility announced a multi-year partnership targeting an initial launch in Arlington, Texas by the end of 2025, with onboard safety operators first and an intent to expand to additional U.S. markets in 2026.
NVIDIA + Stellantis: an AV-ready supply plan
Uber also announced work with NVIDIA to accelerate robotaxi and autonomous delivery fleets, and said Stellantis would be among the first OEMs to deliver at least 5,000 Level 4 vehicles for Uber robotaxi operations in the U.S. and internationally, with Uber overseeing end-to-end fleet operations.
Key data table: Uber robotaxi expansion snapshot (live services)
| Market | Partner | Status (as reported) | Service area (reported) | How riders get matched | Driverless today? |
| Dallas (U.S.) | Avride | Launched Dec. 3, 2025 | ~9 sq mi | Requests on UberX/Comfort/Comfort Electric may match | No (on-board specialist initially) |
| Austin (U.S.) | Waymo | Rollout started Mar. 4, 2025 | 37 sq mi (launch) | Opt-in preferences increase match chances | Yes (fully autonomous Waymo rides) |
| Atlanta (U.S.) | Waymo | Available via Uber app | 65 sq mi (launch) | Uber requests may match if a vehicle is nearby | Yes (Waymo robotaxi service) |
| Abu Dhabi (UAE) | WeRide | Driverless commercial ops started Nov. 26, 2025 | Started on Yas Island | UberX/Comfort matches + dedicated “Autonomous” category | Yes (no vehicle specialist) |
How Uber’s robotaxi model works (and why it matters)
Uber’s recent announcements point to a consistent operating playbook:
- Uber focuses on demand and operations: dispatch, app experience, pricing surfaces, customer support, and fleet operations such as charging and maintenance (depending on the market and partner).
- AV partners focus on autonomy: the self-driving system, safety case development, and technical responsibility for driverless operation.
- Fleet operators appear in some regions: in Abu Dhabi, the companies referenced collaboration with local entities and a fleet operator as part of commercialization.
This division of labor helps Uber scale across markets without owning every part of the technology stack, but it also means rollout speed depends on local permits, fleet readiness, and each partner’s ability to run safely without a human driver.
What to watch next in 2026
Several near-term markers will show whether Uber can hit its “10+ cities” target:
- Expansion inside current metros (Dallas coverage growth; Austin/Atlanta fleet scale-up).
- New city launches tied to named partnerships (Europe with Momenta; more non-U.S./non-China cities with WeRide; more U.S. markets with May Mobility).
- The first “Uber-native” Lucid–Nuro launch in a major U.S. city in late 2026, which would represent one of Uber’s largest declared fleet commitments.
- Vehicle supply readiness under the NVIDIA-enabled plan and OEM deliveries referenced in Uber’s announcement.
Final thoughts
Uber robotaxi expansion is moving from pilots into a multi-market rollout strategy. Dallas adds another U.S. launch, Abu Dhabi adds a major driverless milestone outside the U.S., and a growing list of partnerships outlines a path toward broader coverage by 2026. The next year will test whether Uber and its partners can scale fleets, win permits, and expand service areas while keeping rider experience consistent across cities.
