Uber Stops the Truck Race, Drives Straight into Auto‑Innovation
Uber’s quick shift means no more self‑driving semi‑trucks—just pure car automation.
Why the Sudden Stop?
- After a tragic crash that killed a cyclist in Arizona, Uber pulled the plug on its self‑driving car project.
- Now it’s realising it needs to keep its energy on a single path: make cars that drive themselves.
- Robots on wheels are the future everyone talks about, but the company decided to zoom in on the more urgent frontier.
The Truck Chapter
Back in 2016, Uber bought a startup called Otto for a bang‑in‑the‑eyeball $500 million. Otto promised to make freight smoother by matching truck drivers with loads—without human drivers.
Einstein would have called Otto “taxi for the big wheels.” But after a fatal incident on a sunny March day, Uber reviewed everything.
Team Moves
- Without a pressing need for driverless trucks, most of the former truck developers now work on autonomous cars.
- Alternatively, some have fresh seats elsewhere in the company—because when one door closes, another opens.
Legal Shakes
Between the crash, Otto’s founder Lior Ron’s exit, and the big lawsuit from Waymo, the “self‑driving scenario” has been a stormy ride.
Waymo sued Uber for allegedly stealing trade secrets—an accusation that was surprisingly settled by a handshake deal in February.
Future Roadmap
- Uber returns to public roads, starting again in Pittsburgh.
- All focus is now on that one thing that matters: bringing fully autonomous vehicles to the masses.
In short, Uber says: “We’re stopping the truck dream and revving up the car venture.” That’s the road plan now.
