Uber's CEO said he still wants robotaxis — and he's keeping the door open for Musk

Core Viewpoint - Uber's CEO expresses a desire to collaborate with Tesla on robotaxis, despite Tesla's current preference to operate independently [1][3][7] Group 1: Uber's Strategy and Partnerships - Uber has initiated an "interest list" for Austin users to be the first to experience Waymo robotaxis through the Uber app [2] - Uber is currently partnering with Waymo in Austin and plans to compete with Tesla's autonomous vehicle offerings [7] - The company has faced investor pressure to enhance its autonomous vehicle strategy, with shareholders closely monitoring developments in the self-driving sector [6][9] Group 2: Tesla's Position and Challenges - Tesla aims to create its own ride-hailing platform that combines features of Uber and Airbnb, allowing users to summon driverless cars [3] - Analysts suggest that Tesla may struggle to scale its robotaxi operations without a partnership with platforms like Uber or Lyft, highlighting potential obstacles such as technology, regulation, and demand management [4][5] - Independent analysts have criticized Tesla's robotaxi ambitions, comparing them unfavorably to competitors like Waymo, which already transports a significant number of customers [5] Group 3: Market Reactions and Stock Performance - Following Waymo's announcement of its expansion to Miami without mentioning Uber, Uber's stock dropped by 10% [8] - Uber's stock has seen a recovery, increasing over 30% this year, despite challenges posed by competitors [9]