Uber and May Mobility are partnering up in a big way to make self-driving cars a staple of your daily ride. The companies recently announced a multi-year partnership that will eventually make thousands of autonomous vehicles available on the Uber app. It all begins in Arlington, Texas, where the first fleet is already gearing up to hit the road.
The partnership is a big step forward for both companies. Uber, already a worldwide brand in ride-hailing, is furthering its investment in autonomous cars by broadening its network of technology partners. For May Mobility, a Michigan-based startup, this represents a departure from its typical work on campus shuttles and small-scale transit systems to something larger and more public-facing ride-hailing experience. Together, they’re looking to bring autonomous rides within reach of more people—and accelerate the wider deployment of AV technology throughout the U.S.
The cars that kick off in Arlington are hybrid-electric U.S.-made Toyota Siennas, equipped with May Mobility’s homegrown Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology. The AI system is trained to think on its feet, enabling the vehicles to react to surprises as a human driver would. Rather than using solely pre-programmed courses or scenarios, MPDM assists the cars in managing the unpredictability of city roads with an adaptable, real-time response.
For now, the vehicles will have a safety driver on board, but the long-term vision is to become fully driverless when the technology and regulatory blessings are in place. May Mobility has some existing experience already in Arlington, where it’s been operating pilot AV programs since 2021, providing the company with a good foundation as it expands.
Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi pointed out that this is yet another move in crafting the future of transportation. He noted that a partnership with firms such as May Mobility keeps Uber ahead in autonomous ride-hailing and brings it closer to mass deployment.
The collaboration is not exclusive, so the two companies can freely collaborate with other businesses. May Mobility, with Toyota and BMW among its investors, is also partnering with Lyft on a comparable initiative in Atlanta. Uber, meanwhile, still collaborates with other AV companies such as Waymo, Motional, and Volkswagen to ultimately provide users with multiple options for self-driving rides.
One of the things that differentiates May Mobility is its emphasis on public-private partnerships. Rather than solely pursuing the consumer ride-hailing space, the company collaborates with city governments and companies to co-create transit solutions that fit within local infrastructure and safety codes. It’s also moved beyond the minivan, recently introducing larger battery-electric shuttles able to transport up to 30 riders, hinting that it has ambitious plans for group transit and city transportation overall.
With May Mobility’s self-driving cars now accessible on Uber in Texas, the age of autonomous transport is starting to feel a little more like reality and less like science fiction. As the collaboration continues to grow and roll out into other cities, it gets us closer to a time when smarter, safer, and greener rides are a tap away.
