Rivian, Uber partner on 10,000-vehicle robotaxi deployment

Rivian Automotive and Uber have announced a long-term partnership to deploy a large-scale autonomous ride-hailing fleet based on Rivian’s upcoming R2 platform. The agreement outlines plans to introduce thousands of fully autonomous vehicles across multiple global markets over the next decade, with initial service expected to begin in 2028.

Under the terms of the agreement, Uber will invest up to $1.25 billion in Rivian through 2031. The investment is structured around a series of performance-based milestones tied to the development and deployment of autonomous driving capabilities. An initial $300 million investment is expected following regulatory approval. The funding is intended to support the development and scaling of Rivian’s Level 4 autonomous vehicle platform, which allows for fully driverless operation under certain conditions without human supervision.

The companies plan to deploy 10,000 autonomous Rivian R2 vehicles in the first phase of the partnership. These vehicles are intended to operate as robotaxis and will be available exclusively through the Uber platform. Initial rollout is expected in San Francisco and Miami beginning in 2028, with expansion to 25 cities across the United States, Canada, and Europe by 2031. If all performance milestones are achieved, the companies anticipate operating thousands of unsupervised vehicles across these markets by the end of that period.

The agreement also includes an option for Uber to negotiate the purchase of up to 40,000 additional autonomous Rivian vehicles starting in 2030. This provision suggests the potential for further expansion beyond the initial deployment, depending on the performance of the first phase and broader market conditions.

The partnership reflects a broader industry trend in which automakers and mobility platforms collaborate to develop and deploy autonomous ride-hailing services. Uber has previously invested in and partnered with a range of autonomous vehicle developers following the sale of its in-house autonomous division in 2020. Rivian, meanwhile, has been expanding its capabilities in software, data collection, and vehicle architecture as it works toward integrating advanced autonomy into its future products.

Central to Rivian’s approach is its vertically integrated development model, which combines vehicle design, software, and computing hardware within a single ecosystem. This approach is intended to allow tighter control over system performance and enable faster iteration of autonomous driving features. Uber cited this integration, along with Rivian’s growing fleet of consumer vehicles, as a factor in its decision to partner with the company.

Rivian’s autonomous technology roadmap includes its third-generation autonomy platform, which was announced in December 2025. The platform is expected to debut in the R2 vehicle line when the R2 line launches in late 2026. According to the company, this system is designed to provide a higher level of sensor coverage and computational capability than current consumer vehicles in North America.

The third-generation platform includes a multimodal sensor suite comprising 11 cameras with a combined resolution of 65 megapixels, five radar units, and one LiDAR sensor. These components are intended to provide comprehensive environmental perception, including depth mapping and object detection in a range of lighting and weather conditions. The inclusion of LiDAR, which generates detailed three-dimensional representations of the vehicle’s surroundings, is considered a key component for higher levels of autonomous operation.

System processing is handled by two of Rivian’s in-house RAP1 chips. Together, these chips can deliver up to 1,600 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of artificial intelligence compute performance. This level of computational power is necessary to process large volumes of sensor data in real time and to support complex decision-making algorithms required for autonomous driving.

Rivian has also emphasized its use of a data-driven development model, often referred to as a “data flywheel.” This approach relies on collecting real-world driving data from its existing fleet of consumer vehicles to improve the performance of its autonomous systems. The company’s vehicles are equipped with connectivity and onboard data-collection systems that enable continuous aggregation of sensor data, including LiDAR-generated point clouds. These datasets are used to train and refine machine learning models that underpin the company’s autonomous driving software.

The integration of this data with Rivian’s in-house computing and perception systems is intended to accelerate the development of what the company describes as “end-to-end physical AI.” This term generally refers to artificial intelligence systems that can interpret real-world environments and make driving decisions without relying heavily on predefined rules.

For Uber, the partnership represents an expansion of its strategy to incorporate autonomous vehicles into its ride-hailing network. Rather than developing its own autonomous systems, the company has focused on partnerships with vehicle manufacturers and technology providers. By integrating Rivian’s autonomous vehicles into its platform, Uber aims to offer driverless ride-hailing services while leveraging its existing customer base, routing algorithms, and fleet management infrastructure.

The companies’ timeline outlines the complexity of deploying autonomous vehicles at scale. While Rivian expects to introduce its third-generation autonomy platform in consumer vehicles by late 2026, the transition to fully autonomous commercial services is expected to take additional time. The planned 2028 launch date for initial robotaxi deployments allows for further testing, validation, and regulatory approvals in target markets.

Expansion to 25 cities by 2031 suggests a phased rollout strategy, likely influenced by local regulations, infrastructure readiness, and operational considerations. Autonomous vehicle deployment often requires coordination with city governments and transportation authorities, as well as the development of supporting systems, such as remote monitoring and maintenance.

The agreement between Rivian and Uber adds to a growing list of collaborations aimed at commercializing autonomous ride-hailing services. While timelines for widespread adoption of fully autonomous vehicles have historically shifted, both companies are positioning themselves to participate in a market that could reshape urban transportation over the long term.