Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning we may receive a commission if you click
The billion-dollar fundraising initiative by self-driving truck startup Waabi transcends the realm of conventional trucking.
This deal, consisting of an initial $750 million, with an additional $250 million from Uber contingent upon deployment milestones, signifies a significant push into the robotaxi sector for the company established by former Uber AI leader Raquel Urtasun. It also represents another strategic gamble by Uber in the autonomous vehicle landscape. With over 20 autonomous vehicle partnerships across the globe, the pressing question is not only whether Waabi can fulfill its ambition of deploying more than 25,000 robotaxis, but also whether Uber’s expansive, all-encompassing strategy is ultimately effective.
In the latest episode of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, hosts Kirsten Korosec, Sean O’Kane, and Anthony Ha delved into Uber’s approach to autonomous vehicle partnerships, the distinctions in Waabi’s “simulation-first” strategy, and highlighted other significant news from the week.
Tune in to the full episode to explore:
Subscribe to Equity on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and all other podcast platforms. You can also follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.
