Uber builds AV empire through partnerships and investments in 30 companies

Uber has been aggressively expanding its autonomous vehicle ambitions by partnering with and investing in approximately 30 self-driving companies over the past two years. The ride-hailing giant has pursued a dual strategy of forming operational partnerships alongside making direct financial investments in select firms. The move signals Uber's intent to position itself as a central player in the autonomous vehicle industry rather than developing all technology in-house. The broad network of collaborations spans a range of AV-focused startups and developers working across different aspects of self-driving technology.