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I just don't fully understand why Uber is attempting to compete at the technology level. The most important components, like the Lidar systems, are all third p

I just don't fully understand why Uber is attempting to compete at the technology level. The most important components, like the Lidar systems, are all third party and non-exclusive. And the likely current market leader in the tech - Waymo - has made many indications that they see their largest opportunity as providing the technology through partnerships. Heck there's even been noise recently that Uber IS trying to license Waymo's tech (1) And then you have major auto manufacturers are also pouring BILLIONS into the space because guess what - they still want to sell cars without having to pay a Waymo tax! Today Uber owns 70 - 80% of the current US ride sharing market and are in ~700 other international cities (2). And they have thousands of employees that act as local stewards of ride sharing etc, real infrastructure on the ground & politically that should give them some cushion to sort things out. So yes, maybe Uber's valuation would take a hit if they relied on Waymo, or an auto manufacturer. But maybe Travis' infamous quote about "I have to be tied for first at the least." needs another look or revision at this point? (3) Maybe it's ok for Waymo to be first in a field of their own if it means not killing fucking pedestrians? (1) https://www.engadget.com/2018/03/05/uber-waymo-partnership-following-lawsuit/ https://www.engadget.com/2018/03/05/uber-waymo-partnership-f... (2) http://www.businessofapps.com/data/uber-statistics/ http://www.businessofapps.com/data/uber-statistics/ (3) http://www.businessinsider.com/travis-kalanick-interview-on-self-driving-cars-future-driver-jobs-2016-8 http://www.businessinsider.com/travis-kalanick-interview-on-...

jpao79 9y ago
I agree - Uber's definitely not going to fare well. Maybe Travis' thinking/realization was that Uber is just an app and maybe the major auto manufacturers will realize that and not want to pay the Uber Tax and just put their cars out on the road using their own in-house hailing app? Also prior to the accidents - it was great free media coverage for the future IPO when talking with investors and recruiting smart engineers.
- jameslevy 9y ago
  > their own in-housing hailing app This is very likely to be the plan.
  - baking 9y ago
    There is no way you can justify the expense of development unless it is the plan. You can't make that much money selling self-driving as a very expensive (and finicky) option. Ride-sharing puts cars on the road, rolls them out regionally, and maximizes the utilization.
    - JetSpiegel 9y ago
      Uber as a service. Some company will build it and run the backend for most car companies, branded for each one.
CapacitorSet 9y ago
Such is the nature of free-market economies: companies will go to great lengths, even wasting billions of dollars and thousands of man-days, for the sake of "competition".
MarkMc 9y ago
> And then you have major auto manufacturers are also pouring BILLIONS into the space That is now. But at the time Uber made its decision to develop self-driving cars, the auto manufacturers had just gone through a bruising financial crisis and were skeptical about this new self-driving technology. Uber recognized it as an existential threat before anyone else and did not want to rely on an industry with a poor reputation for management and technology investment.

jpao79 9y ago

I agree - Uber's definitely not going to fare well. Maybe Travis' thinking/realization was that Uber is just an app and maybe the major auto manufacturers will realize that and not want to pay the Uber Tax and just put their cars out on the road using their own in-house hailing app? Also prior to the accidents - it was great free media coverage for the future IPO when talking with investors and recruiting smart engineers.

jameslevy 9y ago
> their own in-housing hailing app This is very likely to be the plan.
- baking 9y ago
  There is no way you can justify the expense of development unless it is the plan. You can't make that much money selling self-driving as a very expensive (and finicky) option. Ride-sharing puts cars on the road, rolls them out regionally, and maximizes the utilization.
  - JetSpiegel 9y ago
    Uber as a service. Some company will build it and run the backend for most car companies, branded for each one.

CapacitorSet 9y ago

Such is the nature of free-market economies: companies will go to great lengths, even wasting billions of dollars and thousands of man-days, for the sake of "competition".

MarkMc 9y ago

> And then you have major auto manufacturers are also pouring BILLIONS into the space That is now. But at the time Uber made its decision to develop self-driving cars, the auto manufacturers had just gone through a bruising financial crisis and were skeptical about this new self-driving technology. Uber recognized it as an existential threat before anyone else and did not want to rely on an industry with a poor reputation for management and technology investment.