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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Good afternoon Corn and everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Contrary to what this article says Uber is launching its own autonomous rideshare service such as the one in London with San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and a few other cities. I would question the credibility of this article given what Uber itself has said and their subsequent actions. I would classify this as fake news. We\u2019ll be glad when Federal Autonomous Vehicle Legislation passes assuring the future of autonomous transportation nation-wide shutting down efforts to hault the expansion of such services. All the best.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Peter Donahue<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> AutonomousVehicles <autonomousvehicles-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Cornelius Butler via AutonomousVehicles<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, September 6, 2026 2:36 PM<br><b>To:</b> autonomousvehicless@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Cornelius Butler <cornelius.butler@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [AutonomousVehicles] Uber with working with Driver Unions against Robo Taxi Expansion<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Uber is <span class=asgive><span style='border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'>doing some things to work against expansion of Robo Taxis without drivers.</span></span> See more with the Gemini Answer and links below.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Uber's Lobbying Efforts</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Human Driver Quotas</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p>Uber has pushed lawmakers to require rideshare platforms to maintain a significant percentage of human-driven rides.<o:p></o:p></p><p>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Opposition to Standalone Robotaxi Networks</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p>In Washington, D.C., Uber joined rideshare drivers, taxi groups, and labor organizations in opposing autonomous vehicle legislation.<o:p></o:p></p><p>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Driver Earnings</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Uber and labor organizations, including SEIU 32BJ, have used these concerns while lobbying lawmakers considering autonomous vehicle legislation.<o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Why Uber Is Doing This</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>1. Protecting Uber From Being Bypassed</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p>Uber sold its Advanced Technologies Group autonomous driving division in 2020 and shifted toward becoming an autonomous vehicle marketplace and aggregator.<o:p></o:p></p><p>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>2. Protecting Uber's Human Driver Network</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p>Human driver requirements make it more difficult for autonomous vehicle companies to completely replace existing rideshare networks.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Such rules could encourage autonomous vehicle companies to partner with platforms like Uber, which already have large networks of drivers and customers.<o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>3. Uber Still Supports Autonomous Vehicles</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p>Uber is not opposing autonomous vehicles altogether.<o:p></o:p></p><p>The company continues investing heavily in autonomous vehicle partnerships, particularly when Uber remains the platform customers use to book the ride.<o:p></o:p></p><p>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>News Coverage</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p>Financial Times \u2014 Uber and Big Taxi unite in battle against Waymo<br><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/84171f91-5f39-4878-bbc5-e4e6262c4321?syn-25a6b1a6=1">https://www.ft.com/content/84171f91-5f39-4878-bbc5-e4e6262c4321?syn-25a6b1a6=1</a><o:p></o:p></p><p>Gizmodo \u2014 Uber, Fearing Getting Uber-ed, Finally Sides With Driver Unions<br><a href="https://gizmodo.com/uber-fearing-getting-ubered-finally-sides-with-driver-unions-2000806928">https://gizmodo.com/uber-fearing-getting-ubered-finally-sides-with-driver-unions-2000806928</a><o:p></o:p></p><p>Financial Times \u2014 Uber picks a side in driver vs robotaxi wars: its own<br><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/18639405-0e49-44e5-be69-cd7988cbdf27?syn-25a6b1a6=1">https://www.ft.com/content/18639405-0e49-44e5-be69-cd7988cbdf27?syn-25a6b1a6=1</a><o:p></o:p></p><p>Financial Times Audio Briefing \u2014 Uber teams up with driver unions to fight robotaxis<br><a href="https://www.ft.com/content/b8758d54-33ca-4263-b549-15009d01d810?syn-25a6b1a6=1">https://www.ft.com/content/b8758d54-33ca-4263-b549-15009d01d810?syn-25a6b1a6=1</a><o:p></o:p></p><p>Kalkine Media \u2014 Uber Allies With Driver Unions in Bid to Slow Robotaxi Expansion<br><a href="https://kalkine.com/news/general-news/uber-nyseuber-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</a><o:p></o:p></p><p><strong><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>YouTube Coverage</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><p>Business Breakdown and News Analysis \u2014 Uber Lobbies For Human Drivers On 85% Of Rides To Slow Waymo And Tesla Robotaxis<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APL0VDqZZQQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APL0VDqZZQQ</a><o:p></o:p></p><p>KING 5 Seattle \u2014 "Hell no, Waymo": Seattle rideshare drivers, union advocates rally against driverless taxi service<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS0lrWECx1c">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS0lrWECx1c</a><o:p></o:p></p><p>CBS Los Angeles \u2014 Teamsters and labor leaders protest Waymo's autonomous vehicles<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5RzpihrX78">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5RzpihrX78</a><o:p></o:p></p><p>KPIX CBS News Bay Area \u2014 Alliance for Independent Workers rally against robotaxis threatening jobs<br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jdPs7AVrjU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jdPs7AVrjU</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>