Bold Names How Uber Plans to Win the Self-Driving Car Race
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Nov 7, 2025 
Sachin Kansal, Uber's Chief Product Officer, shares insights on the future of driverless cars. He discusses Uber's shift to a hybrid strategy, partnering with various autonomous vehicle companies. Sachin recounts his first robotaxi ride, emphasizing the blend of technology and human drivers. He explains rider motivations for choosing autonomous rides and how the app determines who drives—human or AV. The conversation touches on maximizing vehicle efficiency and the potential reduction of car ownership in a world dominated by shared, electric, autonomous transport.
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First Robot Ride Was Boringly Revelatory
- Sachin Kansal described his first robot-car ride as initially scary but quickly boring after five minutes.
- He concluded early that autonomous vehicles would be an important part of transportation's future.
Uber Shifted To A Platform Play
- Uber repositioned from building AV tech to offering a technology platform and hybrid marketplace.
- The company now partners with ~20 providers across mobility, delivery and freight to scale AV deployment.
Balance Supply With A Hybrid Marketplace
- Use a hybrid marketplace mixing AVs and human drivers to balance utilization and demand peaks.
- Optimize asset use because autonomous vehicles are expensive and must be highly utilized.