What Uber's autonomous driving division does

Uber ATG (Advanced Technologies Group) was Uber's self-driving car research and development program. The company built self-driving vehicles, tested them on public roads in several U.S. cities, and worked toward a future where Uber rides could be operated without a human driver in the car. In 2020, Uber sold ATG to Aurora Innovation, a separate autonomous vehicle company, so Uber no longer operates its own self-driving program.

Today, Uber does not operate autonomous vehicles as part of its ride-hailing service. Riders cannot request a driverless Uber. The company has partnerships with autonomous vehicle makers — including Aurora — but these are business arrangements, not active services you can use yet. If you see news about Uber and self-driving cars, it usually refers to these partnerships or to historical work the company did before the sale.

Key Takeaways

  • Uber sold its self-driving car division (ATG) to Aurora Innovation in 2020 and no longer develops autonomous vehicles itself.
  • You cannot currently request a driverless Uber ride through the app — all Uber rides are still driven by human drivers.
  • Uber has partnerships with autonomous vehicle companies but does not operate the vehicles or control their development.
  • Self-driving Uber rides remain a future possibility, not something available to riders today in most places.

What happened to Uber's self-driving program

Uber ATG operated from 2015 to 2020. The division tested self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Toronto. Engineers built custom vehicles, installed cameras and sensors, and drove them on public roads to collect data and refine the software. The program employed hundreds of people and cost Uber billions of dollars.

In December 2020, Uber decided to exit the autonomous vehicle business. The company sold ATG to Aurora Innovation, a company founded by former Google, Tesla, and Uber self-driving engineers. As part of the deal, Uber became an investor in Aurora and agreed to use Aurora's self-driving technology in the future — but Uber does not build or operate the vehicles itself anymore.

Whether Uber currently offers driverless rides

Uber does not offer driverless rides as a standard service. Every Uber you can request through the app today has a human driver. The company has run limited pilots with autonomous vehicle partners in a few cities, but these are small tests, not widespread services.

In some cases, Uber has partnered with companies like Waymo (Google's self-driving division) to offer autonomous rides in specific areas — for example, a small zone in Phoenix or San Francisco. These pilots are usually invitation-only or available to a small number of riders. You cannot simply open the Uber app and request a driverless car in most places.

Uber's current partnerships with autonomous vehicle makers

Uber has a long-term agreement with Aurora Innovation. Under this deal, Uber will integrate Aurora's self-driving technology into Uber's ride-hailing platform sometime in the future. This means Aurora builds and operates the vehicles and software; Uber provides the customer-facing app and logistics. Neither company has announced a specific date for when this service will launch.

Uber also works with other autonomous vehicle companies on smaller projects. These partnerships test whether self-driving cars can work within Uber's business model, but they do not result in widespread driverless service yet. The partnerships are research and development efforts, not consumer services.

Why Uber sold its self-driving division

Building self-driving cars is extremely expensive and takes many years. Uber spent billions on ATG but did not have a clear path to profit. The company faced competition from well-funded rivals like Waymo and Tesla, both of which had been working on autonomous vehicles longer. Uber's core business — ride-hailing with human drivers — was already struggling financially before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Selling ATG allowed Uber to focus money and attention on its main ride-hailing service. By investing in Aurora instead of building its own program, Uber reduced costs while keeping a stake in autonomous vehicle technology. This strategy lets Uber use self-driving cars in the future without bearing all the development risk and expense.

What the timeline looks like for driverless Uber rides

There is no confirmed date for when Uber will offer widespread driverless rides. Aurora and Uber have not announced a launch date for their partnership. Self-driving technology is still being tested and refined; it works in some conditions but not all weather, traffic, or road types yet.

Industry experts estimate that large-scale autonomous ride services could begin in some cities within the next several years, but this depends on technology progress, government regulation, and public acceptance. Uber's own statements suggest the company views autonomous rides as a long-term goal, not something coming soon. If you are waiting for a driverless Uber, expect a wait of several years at minimum.

How regulation affects Uber's autonomous vehicle plans

Self-driving cars must meet safety standards and obtain permission from state and local governments before they can operate on public roads. Different states have different rules. Some allow autonomous vehicle testing with a safety driver in the car; others require more extensive testing before allowing driverless operation.

Uber's partnerships with Aurora and other companies must navigate these regulations in each city or state where they want to operate. A self-driving service that works in one state may not be legal in another. This regulatory patchwork slows down the rollout of autonomous services nationwide and means driverless Uber rides will likely appear in some places before others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request a driverless Uber right now?

No. All Uber rides available through the app today have human drivers. Uber does not operate autonomous vehicles as a standard service. Some limited pilots exist in specific cities with partner companies, but these are not widely available.

What happened to Uber's self-driving car team?

Uber sold its Advanced Technologies Group (ATG) to Aurora Innovation in 2020. Most ATG employees either moved to Aurora or left the company. Uber kept a small team to manage partnerships with autonomous vehicle makers.

Will Uber ever have driverless cars?

Uber plans to use self-driving technology from Aurora in the future, but no launch date has been announced. The company views autonomous rides as a long-term goal. When and where this service becomes available depends on technology progress and government regulation.

How is Uber's self-driving program different from Waymo's?

Waymo (owned by Google) still operates its own self-driving car program and offers autonomous rides in a few cities. Uber sold its program and now partners with other companies instead. Waymo has been working on self-driving technology longer and operates more autonomous vehicles today.

Does Uber's partnership with Aurora mean I'll get cheaper rides?

It is unclear whether driverless Uber rides will cost less than rides with human drivers. Autonomous vehicles may reduce labor costs, but they require expensive technology and maintenance. Uber has not said what prices will be when the service launches.