[AutonomousVehicles] Uber with working with Driver Unions against Robo Taxi Expansion

[Cornelius Butler]

Uber is doing some things to work against expansion of Robo Taxis without
drivers. See more with the Gemini Answer and links below.

Yes. In a striking reversal of its historical opposition to organized
labor, Uber has aligned with driver unions and labor advocates in efforts
to slow the rapid expansion of standalone autonomous vehicle fleets such as
Alphabet's Waymo.

*Uber's Lobbying Efforts*

*Human Driver Quotas*

Uber has pushed lawmakers to require rideshare platforms to maintain a
significant percentage of human-driven rides.

In New Jersey, Uber lobbyists supported language that would require
platforms operating robotaxis to ensure that human drivers complete at
least 85% of rides during a three-year pilot program.

*Opposition to Standalone Robotaxi Networks*

In Washington, D.C., Uber joined rideshare drivers, taxi groups, and labor
organizations in opposing autonomous vehicle legislation.

One concern is that standalone autonomous vehicle permits could allow
companies such as Waymo to operate their own fleets and apps without using
Uber or human drivers.

*Driver Earnings*

Uber has also presented data arguing that rapid Waymo expansion can reduce
human driver earnings and utilization in markets such as San Francisco and
Los Angeles.

Uber and labor organizations, including SEIU 32BJ, have used these concerns
while lobbying lawmakers considering autonomous vehicle legislation.

*Why Uber Is Doing This*

*1. Protecting Uber From Being Bypassed*

Uber sold its Advanced Technologies Group autonomous driving division in
2020 and shifted toward becoming an autonomous vehicle marketplace and
aggregator.

If companies such as Waymo, Zoox, or Tesla operate their own robotaxi
fleets through their own apps, passengers may have no reason to use Uber.

*2. Protecting Uber's Human Driver Network*

Human driver requirements make it more difficult for autonomous vehicle
companies to completely replace existing rideshare networks.

Such rules could encourage autonomous vehicle companies to partner with
platforms like Uber, which already have large networks of drivers and
customers.

*3. Uber Still Supports Autonomous Vehicles*

Uber is not opposing autonomous vehicles altogether.

The company continues investing heavily in autonomous vehicle partnerships,
particularly when Uber remains the platform customers use to book the ride.

In other words, Uber appears to support autonomous vehicles when they
operate through Uber's network while resisting standalone competitors that
could bypass Uber completely.

*News Coverage*

Financial Times — Uber and Big Taxi unite in battle against Waymo
https://www.ft.com/content/84171f91-5f39-4878-bbc5-e4e6262c4321?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Gizmodo — Uber, Fearing Getting Uber-ed, Finally Sides With Driver Unions
https://gizmodo.com/uber-fearing-getting-ubered-finally-sides-with-driver-unions-2000806928

Financial Times — Uber picks a side in driver vs robotaxi wars: its own
https://www.ft.com/content/18639405-0e49-44e5-be69-cd7988cbdf27?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Financial Times Audio Briefing — Uber teams up with driver unions to fight
robotaxis
https://www.ft.com/content/b8758d54-33ca-4263-b549-15009d01d810?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Kalkine Media — Uber Allies With Driver Unions in Bid to Slow Robotaxi
Expansion
https://kalkine.com/news/general-news/uber-nyseuber-allies-with-driver-unions-in-bid-to-slow-robotaxi-expansion

*YouTube Coverage*

Business Breakdown and News Analysis — Uber Lobbies For Human Drivers On
85% Of Rides To Slow Waymo And Tesla Robotaxis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APL0VDqZZQQ

KING 5 Seattle — "Hell no, Waymo": Seattle rideshare drivers, union
advocates rally against driverless taxi service
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS0lrWECx1c

CBS Los Angeles — Teamsters and labor leaders protest Waymo's autonomous
vehicles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5RzpihrX78

KPIX CBS News Bay Area — Alliance for Independent Workers rally against
robotaxis threatening jobs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jdPs7AVrjU
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