Uber Technologies announced on Wednesday plans to invest over $100 million in developing charging infrastructure for autonomous vehicles, signaling a major push to expand its self-driving operations.
The investment will fund DC fast-charging stations at Uber’s autonomous vehicle depots where daily fleet management occurs as well as at key pit stops in priority cities. The initiative will initially focus on U.S. markets, including the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Dallas, before rolling out to additional locations.
Uber is forming partnerships with global charging network operators to establish “utilization guarantee agreements.” Collaborators include EVgo in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston; Electra in Paris and Madrid; and Hubber and Ionity in London.
These partnerships are expected to add hundreds of chargers in high-demand areas, supporting the company’s autonomous vehicle expansion.
Self-driving technology has become a central component of Uber’s long-term strategy. The company works with more than 20 partners worldwide on autonomous taxi, delivery, and freight services, competing with other industry players such as Tesla.
Uber’s robotaxi service currently operates in four U.S. cities, as well as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh, and involves collaborations with firms like Alphabet’s Waymo and China’s WeRide.
Earlier this month, Uber reinforced its commitment to autonomous vehicles by allocating capital to vehicle partners, aiming to secure early access to AV supply and accelerate fleet deployment, leveraging its ride-hailing platform as a strategic advantage.