Uber’s Robotaxi Lobbying Puts It on a Collision Course with Waymo
A proposed bill in Washington, D.C., that would allow autonomous vehicles to operate in the district has become a test case for Uber’s broader robotaxi strategy. Rather than simply partnering with and investing in robotaxi developers, Uber is also trying to shape the rules that govern them, a move that puts it in direct opposition with its business partner, Waymo.
Uber opposes the bill, arguing it would displace for-hire human drivers and hand Waymo a de facto monopoly. The company has lobbied instead for a system that would require robotaxis to operate on a ride-hailing network that also uses human drivers, according to public records viewed by TechCrunch and interviews with industry and company sources.
The Proposed AV Bill and Its Details
The bill, introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen in May, would update the Autonomous Vehicle Act of 2012 to allow driverless testing and commercial driverless operations within the district. Currently, companies like Waymo and Zoox can test autonomous vehicles only with a human safety operator behind the wheel.
The legislation would give the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) authority to issue permits to AV developers meeting requirements including a minimum of $5 million in liability insurance and crash data reporting within either 8 hours or 72 hours, depending on whether the vehicle is part of a commercial fleet or a privately owned AV.
The bill also charges robotaxi operators a $0.15 per mile tax, which robotaxi advocates argue is too expensive. Revenue from the ‘vehicles miles traveled’ (VMT) tax would be split, with 50% going towards public transit and the remainder used to support education and workforce development for ride-share and taxi drivers at risk of losing their jobs to robot cars.
Key Players and Their Stances
Uber, which opposes the bill, has argued that ‘a flawed, first-party only regulatory approach can disrupt a city,’ as Javi Correoso, Uber’s U.S. policy lead, said during a D.C. Council roundtable in May. Correoso also cited data that one AV displaces roughly four drivers. Uber proposes a hybrid model where consumers can choose between human-driven and autonomous rides on the same platform, and has called for this to be part of the regulatory framework.
Waymo, an Alphabet-owned company, backs the bill, contending it will allow safe deployment while supporting public transit, equitable access, and workers without restricting companies. Waymo spokesperson Ethan Teicher said the company ‘does not support efforts to limit AVs to specific types of networks’ and would welcome clarifying changes.
Numerous other organizations are also interested, including representatives from Tesla, Lyft, the Teamsters and SEIU labor unions, disability rights groups, highway safety proponents, and think tanks. The bill also prompted an anti-robotaxi campaign launched by a New York-based organization called ‘Safe Streets for All,’ which is canvassing voters and posting on social media. The organization is registered to an employee of Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno LLC, a lobbying firm that has been retained by labor unions and the New York Black Car Operators’ Injury Compensation Fund.
Uber’s Broader Strategy and History
The bill highlights one prong of Uber’s strategy to protect its leading position in the ride-hailing market. Uber is actively investing in and partnering with over 30 AV technology companies globally while building Uber-Lucid, a new business unit to collect and share real-world driving data with AV developers. The company is hiring dozens of engineers for the division.
Uber’s push for a hybrid network is recent, first emerging in a white paper published in May. Since then, Uber has ramped up its rhetoric with policymakers, including submitting a letter to D.C. Council in June elaborating on its vision: a single transportation network that gradually incorporates autonomous vehicles alongside traditional drivers.
Critics like Greg Rogers, founder of The Innovation Majority, call Uber’s move an attempt at ‘regulatory capture,’ arguing that ‘forcing certain business models and canceling out others does not improve people’s mobility choices.’
Uber’s pro-driver positioning may surprise those familiar with its early anti-regulation ethos. The company’s past battles, including its opposition to California’s AB 5 and its support for Proposition 22, have taught Uber that it must consider human workers and labor unions to play a central role in the robotaxi market. Uber COO Andrew MacDonald wrote in a May blog that the company’s ‘grow-at-all-costs approach led to regulatory battles and a corporate crisis that damaged trust for years.’ Today, Uber says it partners with cities instead of confronting them.
Frenemies: Waymo-Uber Relationship History
Waymo and Uber have squared off before. In 2017, Waymo sued Uber over allegations of trade secret theft. The trial lasted five days before Uber settled. Six years later, with Uber’s in-house AV development shelved, the former rivals teamed up: Waymo put its self-driving vehicles on the Uber app in Phoenix in 2023, a partnership that expanded to Austin and Atlanta by March 2025. However, the relationship has recently soured. Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli publicly criticized Waymo on X, and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed support for regulators during a May earnings call, referencing Waymo incidents. Both companies are poised for a looming battle in California.
Uber’s head of AV policy Harry Hartfield stated in testimony: ‘We think the future of our transportation system will be hybrid. Public policy should be designed around that reality, not around an AV-only future that does not exist.’ The hearing on Monday will feature both companies pitching their positions, with hopes for legislation before D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser leaves office in January 2027.