Uber cuts 10% of its workforce to fuel a massive robotaxi push

Uber cuts 3,300 jobs worldwide

Uber Technologies is cutting about 3,300 jobs worldwide, equal to roughly 10% of its staff, as part of a restructuring announced on Sept. 2, 2026. The company, based in San Francisco, said the move will reduce management layers, combine fragmented teams, and free resources for future priorities.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told employees that affected workers had already been notified, although some countries will follow local processes. Uber had about 34,000 employees globally at the end of 2025.

Uber cuts management layers

Uber has reduced by 20% the number of employees who sit 7 or more reporting layers below the CEO. The company has also reduced the number of small teams with only 1 or 2 direct reports by nearly 50%.

The restructuring affects managers and other employees, and Uber is combining some operational and technology teams as part of the overhaul. Khosrowshahi said the changes are designed to create clearer ownership and speed up decisions across the business.

Remote roles fall to about 1%

Uber plans to limit fully remote roles to about 1% of its workforce while maintaining its policy requiring 3 days a week in the office. The company is also concentrating more employees in a smaller number of designated hubs as part of the restructuring.

Khosrowshahi said the benefits of employees working together in the office have become clearer since the pandemic. Uber expanded its New York office footprint in March 2026, following its June 2025 requirement that employees work in the office 3 days a week.

Uber had 36,600 employees in June

Uber reported approximately 36,600 global employees as of June 30, 2026, compared with about 34,000 at the end of 2025. The restructuring announced on Sept. 2 is designed to reduce Uber’s workforce by about 10%.

The restructuring follows smaller cuts in human resources and customer service earlier in 2026. Uber linked its July customer service cuts to simplifying operations, strengthening office collaboration, and increasing its use of artificial intelligence.

Largest Uber layoffs since 2020

Uber’s 3,300 planned job cuts are its largest workforce reduction since May 2020. During the pandemic, a sharp drop in ride demand led Uber to eliminate 6,700 jobs across 2 rounds, equal to nearly 25% of its staff.

The 2026 restructuring comes while Khosrowshahi says the business is performing well and has expanded rapidly in recent years. He said Uber’s top line had nearly tripled over the previous 5 years.

Uber plans over $10 billion for robotaxis

Uber plans to invest more than $10 billion in robotaxis over the coming years as autonomous vehicles become a bigger part of ride-hailing. The company is backing developers of autonomous driving systems and aims to make its app a major marketplace for driverless rides.

Waymo robotaxis are available through Uber’s app in Austin and Atlanta, while Waymo also operates independently in other markets. Tesla has also expanded its robotaxi operations, adding another competitor as Uber builds partnerships across autonomous transportation.

Uber and Wayve launch London rides

Uber works with Waymo in Austin and Atlanta, where Waymo vehicles are available through the Uber app. Waymo also operates independently in markets including Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Uber and Wayve launched supervised autonomous rides in London on Sept. 3, 2026, using electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with Wayve’s autonomous driving technology.

The London service includes a trained private-hire driver onboard, while fully driverless public operation remains subject to additional regulatory approval in the United Kingdom.

Uber exits 2 African markets

Uber ended operations in Nigeria and Uganda on Sept. 2, 2026, after operating in both countries for at least a decade. The company said the decision followed a review of its business priorities and investment focus in Africa.

Uber entered Nigeria in 2014 and Uganda in 2016. The exits came as Uber also began a broader restructuring, including about 3,300 job cuts and a greater focus on its ride, delivery, and autonomous-vehicle businesses.

Delivery Hero offer values equity at $14.8 billion

Uber announced a voluntary takeover offer for Delivery Hero in July 2026, valuing 100% of the company’s equity at $14.8 billion. Delivery Hero, which is based in Berlin and operates across 4 continents, said its management and supervisory boards recommended that shareholders accept the offer on Sept. 2.

The proposed transaction would expand Uber’s food delivery business as Uber Eats competes with DoorDash, Instacart, and local delivery platforms. Delivery Hero said the offer price was fair and adequate, with completion expected in the second half of 2027 if the required conditions are met.

Uber shifts capital toward EV makers

Uber has redirected capital toward autonomous-vehicle partnerships and electric-vehicle makers as it expands its robotaxi strategy. Uber has committed $500 million to Lucid and up to $1.25 billion to Rivian, with part of the Rivian funding tied to future autonomy milestones.

Those investments sit alongside Uber’s plan to commit more than $10 billion to robotaxi partnerships over the coming years. Uber has also said savings from its September restructuring will be reinvested in growth, innovation, and capabilities it expects to need in the future.

Shares rise after Uber restructuring

Uber shares gained 2.2% following the Sept. 2 restructuring announcement, while Lyft advanced 3.3% and the S&P 500 rose 0.5% during the same trading period. At that point, Uber shares were still down nearly 8% for the year.

Growing competition remained a concern across Uber’s ride services, robotaxi strategy, and food delivery business. Waymo and Tesla are expanding autonomous transportation services, while DoorDash, Instacart, and local delivery platforms continue to compete with Uber Eats.

Analysts see up to $2 billion in savings

Analysts said Uber’s restructuring could produce as much as $2 billion in annual savings. Uber said a leaner structure would generate savings that could be reinvested in growth, innovation, and future capabilities.

Rosenblatt Securities began coverage of Uber with a Buy rating and a $100 price target earlier that week. Its analysts said the layoffs suggested Uber was reallocating resources toward growth opportunities.

Tesla and Rivian face off over which EV stock could lead in 2026 shows why Rivian’s cash position and spending plans matter to investors.

Uber restructures after rapid growth

Uber has expanded rapidly since launching its San Francisco service in May 2010, growing into ride-sharing, food delivery, and autonomous-vehicle partnerships. Khosrowshahi said that more than 5 years of growth had also created additional management layers, coordination challenges, and fragmented ownership across the company.

The Sept. 2 restructuring includes job cuts, fewer management layers, stricter office requirements, and greater concentration of employees in major hubs. Uber is making those changes while planning to invest more than $10 billion in robotaxi partnerships and pursuing its $14.8 billion takeover offer for Delivery Hero.

Curious why Rivian thinks lidar is crucial for self‑driving tech? Dive into the company’s explanation and see how lidar fits into the future of autonomy.

Uber is cutting thousands of jobs while expanding its autonomous vehicle strategy. Follow how its robotaxi investments and restructuring reshape the company.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.