TLDR
- Uber is lobbying against a Washington D.C. bill that would allow fully driverless robotaxi operations, arguing it could hand Waymo a monopoly.
- Uber wants a hybrid system requiring robotaxis and human drivers to coexist on the same platform.
- The proposed D.C. bill would charge robotaxis $0.15 per mile, with revenue split between public transit and driver retraining programs.
- Waymo backs the bill and says it does not restrict competition or force any specific network model.
- Wall Street analysts have a Strong Buy consensus on UBER stock, with an average price target of $108.04 — implying 44% upside.
Uber and Waymo are heading for a public clash over a Washington D.C. bill that could reshape how robotaxis operate — and both companies have a lot riding on the outcome.
The bill, introduced by D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen in May, would update the city’s Autonomous Vehicle Act of 2012. It would allow companies to test and run fully driverless vehicles commercially, something currently banned without a human safety operator on board.
Uber is against it. The company argues the bill would effectively give Waymo — its current business partner and growing rival — a de facto monopoly over D.C.’s robotaxi market.
Uber stock (UBER) was up around 0.86% on the day, as the lobbying battle drew fresh attention to the company’s broader AV strategy.
What the Bill Actually Does
To get a permit under the proposed law, companies would need to carry at least $5 million in liability insurance and report crash data within 8 to 72 hours depending on fleet type. There’s also a $1 million application fee and a non-refundable $5 million permit fee — costs that critics say would limit the market to only the biggest players.
The bill also introduces a $0.15-per-mile tax on robotaxi trips. Half goes to public transit; the other half funds job training for drivers at risk of being displaced by autonomous vehicles.
Uber’s Hybrid Push
Uber wants something different. Its proposal: a single platform where riders can be matched with either a human driver or a robotaxi, depending on availability and need. The company published a white paper on this hybrid model in May and has since been lobbying actively in D.C. and beyond.
Uber’s policy chief Javi Correoso argues that robotaxis create congestion, can’t assist elderly or disabled passengers the way human drivers can, and that one autonomous vehicle displaces roughly four human drivers.
Waymo disputes the framing entirely. The Alphabet-owned company says the bill is simply about safe deployment and doesn’t lock competitors out. It says it would welcome language clarifying that different network types can operate in the district.
The two companies are scheduled to make their cases during a day-long D.C. Council hearing on Monday.
The tension between them isn’t new. Waymo sued Uber in 2017 over trade secret theft before the case settled. The two later partnered to put Waymo vehicles on the Uber app in Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta. That relationship has visibly soured in recent months, with Uber’s CTO publicly criticizing Waymo’s driving behavior on X, and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi making pointed remarks about AV safety during an earnings call in May.
Uber is also partnering with more than 30 AV companies globally and building a new internal division called AV Labs to collect and share real-world driving data.
Wall Street remains bullish. Analysts have a Strong Buy consensus on UBER stock, based on 28 Buy ratings, two Holds, and zero Sells over the past three months. The average price target sits at $108.04.
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