August 23, 2024 – Uber, the popular ride-hailing platform, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Cruise, General Motors’ autonomous driving company. This collaboration aims to integrate Cruise’s self-driving cars into the Uber platform.
According to the plan, a fleet of Chevrolet Bolt-based autonomous vehicles will be rolled out next year. Once these cars are launched, Uber customers requesting eligible rides through the app may see the option of having their trip completed by a Cruise self-driving car.
Cruise CEO Marc Whitten stated, “Cruise’s mission is to utilize driverless technology to create safer streets and redefine city life. Our partnership with Uber brings the benefits of safe, reliable autonomous driving to more people, ushering in a new era of urban transportation.”
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi echoed these sentiments, saying, “As the largest ride-hailing and delivery platform, Uber believes it can play a significant role in safely and reliably introducing autonomous driving technology to consumers and cities worldwide. We are thrilled to partner with Cruise and look forward to launching our collaborative vehicles next year.”
Meanwhile, Uber’s second-quarter 2024 financial results show strong performance. The company reported revenues of 10.7billion,exceedinganalysts′expectationsof10.57 billion. Its ride-hailing and delivery services generated a combined $9.4 billion, representing a 19% year-on-year growth. Adjusting for currency fluctuations, this growth rate increases to 20%.
Looking ahead, Uber has ambitious plans for its fleet. The company aims to fully electrify its fleet by 2040 and has committed to investing $800 million by 2025 to help achieve this goal. In a related move, Uber has hired former Tesla executive Rebecca Tinucci to oversee the transition to electric vehicles within the ride-hailing platform.
