On March 16, 2026, Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE: UBER) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) unveiled an ambitious plan to expand their partnership in the realm of autonomous vehicles. The collaboration aims to roll out a fleet of NVIDIA software-driven robotaxis across 28 cities by 2028, marking a significant leap forward in the evolution of urban transportation.

2. Launch Timeline and Operational Strategy

The deployment of these autonomous vehicles is set to begin in major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and San Francisco in the first half of 2027. The phased approach will see initial data-collection vehicles introduced to gather insights on city-specific driving conditions, a crucial step in training NVIDIA’s next-generation AI model, Alpamayo. Following this data-gathering phase, operations will shift to an operator-led launch, ultimately progressing to fully driverless Level 4 deployments.

This systematic rollout is designed to ensure a smooth transition to autonomous operations, allowing Uber to scale its services effectively across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia by 2028.

3. The Technology Behind the Robotaxis

At the core of this initiative is NVIDIA's DRIVE Hyperion platform, which underpins the autonomous vehicles. The Alpamayo model introduces advanced reasoning capabilities, enabling the vehicles to navigate complex scenarios—such as unpredictable construction zones and erratic pedestrian behavior—by employing chain-of-thought logic. This innovation represents NVIDIA’s evolution into a comprehensive Level 4 software provider, setting the stage for safer and more reliable transportation solutions.

4. Statements from Leadership

Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “Autonomous technology holds enormous promise to make transportation safer, more reliable, and more accessible. By expanding our partnership with NVIDIA and combining advanced AI with Uber’s global network and operating experience, we are laying the foundation for an increasingly multi-player AV world, ensuring broad commercialization and helping to bring robotaxi service to more riders over time.”

NVIDIA’s founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, emphasized the transformative potential of this technology. He remarked, “The ‘ChatGPT moment’ for physical AI has arrived—robotic systems can now reason about the complexities of the physical world. Uber is building one of the world’s most expansive autonomous ride-hailing platforms. We are delighted to connect NVIDIA’s large ecosystem of robotaxi-ready partners to the Uber network to bring the magic of robotaxis to cities worldwide.”

5. The Future of Mobility

As Uber and NVIDIA gear up for this remarkable venture, the implications for the future of urban mobility are vast. This partnership not only aims to enhance the safety and efficiency of transportation but also seeks to democratize access to autonomous ride-hailing services, potentially transforming how millions navigate their cities.

With a clear timeline and strong technological backing, Uber is poised to lead the charge in ushering in a new era of autonomous transportation, positioning itself at the forefront of a rapidly evolving landscape. The journey to fully autonomous ride-hailing has only just begun, but the road ahead looks promising as these industry giants set their sights on a future powered by innovation, safety, and accessibility.

Original press release