As robotaxi services expand, charging infrastructure is emerging as a key operational challenge. Uber Technologies plans to invest more than $100 million to develop charging hubs for autonomous vehicles as part of its push to scale self-driving operations.
The announcement comes a few days after Uber Technologies signed an agreement to acquire Getir’s delivery business in Türkiye.
According to industry reports, the investment will fund the construction of DC fast-charging stations at Uber’s autonomous depots, where day-to-day fleet operations are managed. Additional charging points will also be set up across priority cities to support vehicle uptime.
The rollout will begin in the United States, starting with the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Dallas, before expanding to other cities over time, Reuters said.
Autonomous vehicles as a strategic priority
Uber has identified autonomous vehicles as a strategic priority and has partnered with more than 20 companies globally across self-driving freight, delivery and ride-hailing services. The company is competing with Tesla and other players in the race to capture market share in autonomous mobility.
The report also noted that Uber is entering into “utilisation guarantee agreements” with charging network operators in several global markets.
In the US, this includes cooperation with EVgo in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston. In Europe, the company is working with Electra in Paris and Madrid, and with Hubber and Ionity in London. These agreements are expected to support the installation of hundreds of new chargers in high-demand locations.
Earlier this month, Uber committed capital to vehicle partners to secure early supply and accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles, describing its platform as having structural advantages for scaling such services.
Uber currently offers robotaxi rides in four US cities, as well as in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh. It operates these services through partnerships with companies, including Waymo, owned by Alphabet, and WeRide, a China-based Company.
