New York, January 29, 2026, 14:33 ET — Regular session
Shares of Uber Technologies Inc (UBER.N) climbed roughly 2.7% to $81.93 in afternoon trading on Thursday, after hitting a session high of $82.05. Trading volume reached around 19 million shares.
Uber’s stock reacted to renewed focus on its robotaxi ambitions after the Financial Times revealed plans for a hefty investment in Canadian self-driving startup Waabi. The report detailed a $500 million commitment, split into $250 million upfront in Waabi’s funding round and another $250 million contingent on hitting milestones. The goal: to roll out at least 25,000 Waabi-powered vehicles within Uber’s ride-hailing fleet. The article also highlighted Uber’s recent AV Labs initiative and its shift toward a partner-driven autonomy strategy.
Robotaxis — self-driving cars operating like taxis — are moving swiftly from a distant idea to an immediate focus for transport stocks. Major players are laying out launch plans while regulators work on rules. Alphabet’s Waymo plans to roll out a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in London by Q4 2026, highlighting just how crowded the robotaxi field is becoming.
Waabi announced it raised $1 billion in fresh capital, including a $750 million Series C round that was oversubscribed. The package also features a milestone-based future investment from Uber, linked to a robotaxi deal. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi described Waabi’s move into robotaxis as “an important milestone.” Waabi founder Raquel Urtasun highlighted how the company’s “self-driving capabilities” paved the way for entering the robotaxi market. GlobeNewswire
Uber’s shares rose despite the S&P 500 ETF dropping roughly 0.5%. Lyft jumped around 3.8%, DoorDash edged up 0.8%, and Tesla slipped about 2.5%.
Investors are grappling with a key question: can Uber boost its share of ride revenue in a future where cars drive themselves, without owning the vehicles or footing the fleet bills? The Waabi partnership puts Uber’s wager to the test again, aiming to remain at the heart of demand while its partners handle the bulk of hardware costs.
But the robotaxi equation can flip fast. Timelines shift, cities delay approvals, and safety checks stall; if Uber needs to inject more capital to lock in supply, the narrative moves from “asset-light platform” to a much weightier proposition.
Uber is also grappling with legal challenges unrelated to its self-driving efforts. At a federal sexual assault trial in Phoenix, an Uber executive stood by the company’s nonprofit safety partnerships, telling the court Uber plans to “shine a light on this issue,” according to Courthouse News Service. Courthouse News
Uber is set to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Feb. 4, before the market opens, followed by a conference call at 8:00 a.m. ET. Investors will zero in on updates about bookings and margins, along with any clearer signals on when robotaxi partnerships might start generating actual rides on the app.
