Published

Uber May Spin Off Autonomous Car Unit

Ride-hailing service Uber Technologies Inc. is pondering a move to spin off its self-driving-car development unit, sources tell the Financial Times.

Share

Ride-hailing service Uber Technologies Inc. is pondering a move to spin off its self-driving-car development unit, sources tell the Financial Times.

Would-be investors have expressed interest in Uber’s Advanced Technologies Group, according to the newspaper. It says Uber would retain operational control and majority ownership of ATG but gain financial support to help cover the cost of developing automated-driving technologies.

One of FT’s sources says the unit is spending $500 million per year. Some investors are pushing Uber to shed the operation, noting that competitors such as Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo unit are significantly ahead on development work.

ATG’s work has fallen further behind since its road test were suspended in March after an Uber test car killed a pedestrian. The company resumed limited tests on public roads in Pittsburgh in July.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has resisted an outright divestiture. The company attracted a $500 million investment by Toyota Motor Corp. last month to collaborate on autonomous-driving technologies. ATG also has announced plans to create a $154 million autonomy research facility in Toronto.

RELATED CONTENT

  • Jeeps Modified for Moab

    On Easter morning in Moab, Utah, when the population of that exceedingly-hard-to-get-to town in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth has more than doubled, some people won’t be hunting for Easter eggs, but will be trying to get a good look at one of the vehicles six that Jeep has prepared for real-life, fast-feedback from the assembled at the annual Easter Jeep Safari.

  • Cobots: 14 Things You Need to Know

    What jobs do cobots do well? How is a cobot programmed? What’s the ROI? We asked these questions and more to four of the leading suppliers of cobots. 

  • Choosing the Right Fasteners for Automotive

    PennEngineering makes hundreds of different fasteners for the automotive industry with standard and custom products as well as automated assembly solutions. Discover how they’re used and how to select the right one. (Sponsored Content)

Gardner Business Media - Strategic Business Solutions