Meta description: Uber stock is in focus on Dec. 12, 2025 after a robotaxi pilot launches in Dubai, analysts reiterate bullish targets, and new NYC delivery rules spark a lawsuit.
Updated: December 12, 2025
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER) is back in the spotlight on December 12, 2025, as investors weigh a high-profile autonomous-vehicle expansion in the Middle East against persistent regulatory noise and the usual question for a maturing platform business: how much growth is still left—and at what margin?
The day’s headlines show Uber pushing on multiple fronts at once: robotaxis, local commerce, and delivery-product mechanics—all while Wall Street refreshes price targets and the company fights policy changes that could impact user demand in major cities.
Uber stock price today: where UBER stands on December 12, 2025
In U.S. premarket activity on Dec. 12, Uber shares traded around the mid-$80s after closing at $85.44 on Dec. 11 (with premarket indications around $85.80). [1]
That relatively steady tape matters because it suggests today’s news flow is being treated as strategic rather than immediately earnings-dilutive—at least for now.
Biggest catalyst today: Uber launches robotaxi rides in Dubai via the Uber app
The most market-relevant development on December 12 is Uber’s confirmation that robotaxi passenger rides are now live in Dubai in partnership with WeRide and Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). [2]
Key details investors are watching:
- Riders can request a WeRide vehicle through the “Autonomous” option inside the Uber app, starting in select Dubai neighborhoods including Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah. [3]
- Tawasul is the primary fleet operator providing fleet management services on the Uber platform. [4]
- The current Dubai rollout is operating with a vehicle specialist onboard, and the companies frame it as groundwork for a fully driverless commercial service in early 2026. [5]
- Uber ties the launch to Dubai’s stated goal of 25% autonomous journeys by 2030. [6]
Why this matters for UBER stock: the robotaxi narrative isn’t only about futuristic branding. Investors increasingly treat autonomy as a potential margin and reliability lever, especially in dense cities where driver supply, surge dynamics, and regulatory wage floors can pressure unit economics. Dubai is also a signal market: a high-visibility city with a government that is explicitly positioning itself as an autonomy early adopter. [7]
Uber’s autonomy strategy: “trillion-dollar-plus” market, 10+ markets targeted
On the same date, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described robotaxis as a “trillion-dollar-plus” opportunity and indicated Uber aims to expand autonomous operations to more than 10 markets by next year, with particular emphasis on Asia-Pacific growth potential. [8]
This framing is important for investors because it positions Uber less as a single-technology AV developer and more as an aggregator/distribution layer—a platform that can plug multiple autonomy providers into a global demand network. Khosrowshahi also emphasized that autonomy is unlikely to be “winner-take-all,” which implicitly supports Uber’s partner-centric approach rather than a vertically integrated bet. [9]
Regulatory headline: Uber and DoorDash sue NYC over delivery tipping rules
Not all the day’s headlines are growth-forward. Uber and DoorDash are also in the news for a legal challenge to New York City’s delivery tipping rules.
A lawsuit reported Dec. 12 says the companies are challenging city laws that require delivery apps to prompt tipping at checkout (rather than after the order is placed) and to set a default tip suggestion (reported as at least 10%). The rules are described as taking effect January 26, 2026. [10]
For Uber stockholders, this is worth tracking for two reasons:
- Demand sensitivity: The companies argue that checkout prompts could worsen “sticker shock,” reducing order frequency. [11]
- Precedent risk: NYC often functions as a policy bellwether. If similar rules spread, the impact could extend beyond one market.
Separately, the Financial Times issued a correction on Dec. 12 clarifying that Uber’s driver pay algorithm does account for time spent traveling to passenger pick-up—an example of how intensely the compensation model continues to be scrutinized by media, regulators, and workers. [12]
Analyst forecasts and price targets on December 12: RBC reiterates Outperform, $110 target
Wall Street research also moved today. RBC Capital reiterated an Outperform rating on Uber and maintained a $110 price target following investor meetings with Uber executives. The note framed the target as roughly 29% upside from around $85.44. [13]
The most consequential takeaways from RBC’s note (for investors thinking beyond a one-day headline):
- Management signaled confidence in sustaining mid- to high-teens growth with margin leverage for the “foreseeable future,” even if investment levels rise somewhat in 2026. [14]
- RBC also flagged continued expansion in autonomous vehicle partnerships and markets next year. [15]
- On capital allocation, RBC noted the share buyback program remains a core focus. [16]
On the broader Street view, MarketWatch’s analyst page continues to reflect a heavily covered name with frequent upgrades/downgrades activity. [17]
What this means for UBER stock today: the sell-side is still largely treating Uber as a company that can compound cash flow while selectively reinvesting—especially if autonomy and ads mature into meaningful incremental profit pools over time.
Fundamentals check: what Uber reported last quarter (Q3 2025) and the Q4 outlook
Even on a headline-driven day, Uber’s most recent earnings framework remains the anchor for most price models.
In its Q3 2025 results, Uber reported:
- Trips: 3.5 billion (up 22% YoY)
- Gross Bookings:$49.7B (up 21% YoY)
- Revenue:$13.5B (up 20% YoY)
- Adjusted EBITDA:$2.3B (up 33% YoY)
- Free cash flow:$2.2B for the quarter
- Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments:$9.1B [18]
For Q4 2025, Uber guided to:
- Gross Bookings:$52.25B to $53.75B
- Adjusted EBITDA:$2.41B to $2.51B [19]
This matters because autonomy announcements are exciting—but Uber’s valuation still largely rests on its ability to keep expanding bookings, improving EBITDA, and converting that into free cash flow with disciplined capital returns.
Local commerce momentum: grocery, alcohol, and “fast delivery” partnerships
While robotaxis dominate the headlines, Uber continues to steadily build the “get anything” commerce layer that supports Delivery growth.
Two developments in the past 48 hours stand out:
- Regional grocery and alcohol expansion: Uber announced additions including Stater Bros., Kowalski’s, and Big Red Liquors, emphasizing broader selection in regional markets and highlighting the scale of its retail footprint (including references to tens of thousands of U.S. retail locations and extensive retailer additions in 2025). [20]
- Shopify integration for same-day delivery: Uber said Uber Direct for Shopify is live for Shopify Plus merchants in the U.S., Canada, and France, enabling one-hour, same-day, and scheduled delivery embedded in checkout and POS—without merchants building their own fleets. [21]
For investors, these moves reinforce a core bull thesis: Uber can deepen share-of-wallet by becoming the default interface for rides + food + retail + last‑mile logistics—and monetize across that ecosystem through membership and potentially advertising.
What could move UBER stock next: 5 investor watch-items
- Dubai robotaxi expansion metrics: geography expansion, safety performance, rider adoption, and the shift from “specialist onboard” to fully driverless in early 2026. [22]
- Uber’s 10+ market autonomy push: which markets launch next, and whether Uber can keep the partner model capital-light. [23]
- NYC tipping lawsuit outcomes: whether courts block or alter enforcement ahead of the Jan. 26, 2026 effective date described in reporting. [24]
- Delivery demand elasticity: if higher all-in pricing pressures order frequency, especially in high-regulation cities. [25]
- Q4 execution vs. guidance: Gross Bookings and Adjusted EBITDA delivery in line with the company’s Q4 ranges. [26]
Bottom line for December 12, 2025
Uber stock enters today with a familiar mix of big vision and practical constraints. The Dubai robotaxi launch is a tangible step that keeps Uber in the center of the global autonomy conversation—supported by a partner model that investors often prefer to a balance-sheet-heavy AV buildout. [27]
At the same time, New York City’s tipping rules (and Uber’s legal challenge) highlight the structural reality for the business: urban mobility and delivery are political products, and regulation can change demand curves quickly. [28]
From a forecasting standpoint, Wall Street remains broadly constructive—exemplified by RBC’s reiterated Outperform and $110 target—while Uber’s own earnings outlook continues to emphasize scale, margin expansion, and cash generation. [29]
References
1. finance.yahoo.com, 2. investor.uber.com, 3. investor.uber.com, 4. investor.uber.com, 5. investor.uber.com, 6. investor.uber.com, 7. investor.uber.com, 8. www.businessinsider.com, 9. www.businessinsider.com, 10. gothamist.com, 11. gothamist.com, 12. www.ft.com, 13. www.investing.com, 14. www.investing.com, 15. www.investing.com, 16. www.investing.com, 17. www.marketwatch.com, 18. investor.uber.com, 19. investor.uber.com, 20. www.prnewswire.com, 21. www.uber.com, 22. investor.uber.com, 23. www.businessinsider.com, 24. gothamist.com, 25. gothamist.com, 26. investor.uber.com, 27. investor.uber.com, 28. gothamist.com, 29. www.investing.com
