New York, February 6, 2026, 19:34 EST — Trading after the bell
- Uber and WeRide are looking to roll out a minimum of 1,200 robotaxis in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh, aiming for deployment as early as 2027.
- Uber slipped 0.6% following the U.S. close on Friday
- This week’s guidance left investors juggling both autonomous-vehicle investment and the specter of legal risk.
Shares of Uber Technologies (UBER.N) slipped 0.6% to $74.77 in Friday’s after-hours session, giving back some ground following a choppy day where the stock ranged from $72.71 up to $76.15.
Uber’s ramped-up robotaxi push is notable—the company’s doubling down on autonomous vehicles, aiming to move costs up front and push profits further out. Robotaxis? No drivers, just permits and a long slog to reach scale before the business model really clicks.
Scale is grabbing headlines this week, right as investors zero in on margins and risk. Fresh scrutiny is hitting Uber, too, after a jury reached a verdict in a key case involving driver sexual assault allegations—raising new questions about safety and liability for the company.
Uber and WeRide are looking to roll out at least 1,200 robotaxis across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh, targeting full deployment by 2027. “Today’s announcement marks the largest Robotaxi commercial commitment in the MENA region,” said Tony Han, CEO of WeRide. Uber’s Sarfraz Maredia described it as “an exciting moment for Uber and the Middle East.” 1
Uber this week put out first-quarter adjusted EPS guidance between 65 and 72 cents—somewhat shy of the 76-cent consensus. The company also flagged a higher effective tax rate for 2026. On the plus side, Uber now sees gross bookings landing at $52.0 billion to $53.5 billion, topping what analysts had penciled in, as Q4 trips climbed 22%. That gross bookings figure covers total value before driver and merchant payouts, for both rides and deliveries. “There will likely be a continued AV debate,” wrote William Blair’s Ralph Schackart, as Uber pushes further into autonomous vehicles. 2
Uber’s CFO Prashanth Mahendra-Rajah plans to exit the role on Feb. 16, according to a regulatory filing. Stepping in: Balaji Krishnamurthy. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called Krishnamurthy “trusted by investors” and said he “knows Uber’s business inside and out.” 3
A U.S. jury on Thursday hit Uber with an $8.5 million penalty, ruling the company responsible in a lawsuit from a woman who claimed a driver sexually assaulted her at age 19. This marks the first bellwether trial to play out among more than 3,000 related federal cases. “This underscores the importance of robust background checks” for services linking users with drivers or couriers, Morningstar’s Mark Giarelli commented. 4
Since Monday’s close, Uber shares are down roughly 8%. 5
The shape of the next phase isn’t set. Robotaxi rollouts remain subject to sign-off from regulators and key performance targets, with safety incidents threatening to derail timelines or drive expenses higher. A string of unfavorable verdicts might ramp up settlement demands, too, and Uber’s focus on lower fares could eat into margins if costs go up.
Investors are zeroed in on “unit economics” — profit per vehicle net of expenses — as Uber rolls out more autonomous vehicles and works to defend its cash flow. Up next: the CFO handoff, coming Feb. 16.
