Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE: UBER) is inching up in premarket on Tuesday after announcing a multi-year strategic partnership with Chinese tech giant Baidu aimed at deploying thousands of autonomous vehicles on its platform outside the US and mainland China.
According to Baidu, the rollout will begin by the end of this year in Asia and the Middle East, with cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi among the first to see its Apollo Go robotaxis in action.
Uber-Baidu deal marks a significant expansion for both companies – aiming at reshaping the future of mobility through driverless technology.
Baidu shares gained nearly 5.0% in the US following today’s announcement, while UBER stock is up a little under 2.0%.
What Baidu deal means for Uber stock
For Uber investors, the company’s team-up with Baidu is more than just a technological upgrade – it’s a strategic leap toward global dominance in autonomous mobility.
Bringing the Apollo Go fleet, which has already completed more than 11 million rides across 15 cities to its ride-hailing platform, UBER secures access to a proven AV system with a rather strong safety record.
In the long run, this could translate to lower operating costs, improved margins, and differentiated services in competitive markets.
Uber’s stock price increase after the announcement signals confidence in the company’s ability to scale autonomous operations without the burden of developing its own AV technology.
Moreover, the Baidu agreement positions UBER to compete more aggressively with Alphabet’s Waymo and other autonomous driving players.
UBER has several other robotaxi deals
Investors should note Baidu is the latest in a strong of robotaxi partnerships that Uber Technologies has announced in the trailing 12 months.
In September 2024, for example, the ride-hailing behemoth teamed up with WeRide to deploy self-driving vehicles across its platform – with plans of expanding to 15 news cities globally over the next five years.
Then this year in May, Pony AI joined the roster, announcing a strategic alliance with UBER to launch robotaxi services in the Middle East and beyond.
The company based out of San Francisco, CA has also partnered with Waymo in the US, offering driverless rides in Austin via the Uber app – and in the UK, it is trialing autonomous rides with a startup called “Wayve”.
These deals reflect Uber’s shift from developing its own AV tech – after selling its autonomous unit in 2020 – to becoming a platform that aggregates best-in-class autonomous solutions.
Should you invest in UBER shares today?
Uber’s robotaxi strategy is gaining momentum, and the Baidu deal adds a compelling layer to its long-term growth narrative.
The company is transitioning from a labor-intensive ride-hailing model to a tech-driven mobility platform, which could unlock higher profitability and scalability.
However, Wall Street analysts believe much of the related upside is already baked into the UBER stock at current levels.
While the consensus rating on Uber shares currently sits at “overweight”, the mean target of about $99 does not currently indicate exciting upside potential from here.
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