Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Uber Shutters Autonomous Truck Business Division

In a statement, the technology company said it will focus its autonomous vehicle efforts on passenger cars for the foreseeable future.

July 31, 2018
Uber Shutters Autonomous Truck Business Division

Uber is ending research on autonomous trucks in order to focus on self-driving cars. The company began its foray into autonomous trucks when it purchased the startup Otto (pictured).

Photo courtesy Uber

3 min to read


Uber is shuttering its autonomous truck research division.

At least for now.

Ad Loading...

That’s the word that came late on July 30 about the San Francisco-based tech company, which is ending research on autonomous trucks in order to focus on self-driving cars.

Uber acquired its autonomous truck business from startup Otto almost two years ago in a move that was widely considered controversial and, at times, proved to be contentious.

The story broke when online technology journal TechCrunch reported on an email from Eric Meyhofer, head of Uber Advanced Technologies group, which stated that, “We recently took the important step of returning to public roads in Pittsburgh, and as we look to continue that momentum, we believe having our entire team’s energy and expertise focused on this effort is the best path forward.

Ad Loading...

“Rather than having two groups working side by side, focused on different vehicle platforms, I want us instead collaborating as one team,” Meyhofer said in an email to employees reviewed by TechCrunch editors. “I know we’re all super proud of what the Trucks team has accomplished, and we continue to see the incredible promise of self-driving technology applied to moving freight across the country. But we believe delivering on self-driving for passenger applications first, and then bringing it to freight applications down the line, is the best path forward. For now, we need the focus of one team, with one clear objective.”

The move will not affect the Uber Freight business unit, which uses the company’s location-based, ride-location app technology to connect truckers with available freight.

According to TechCrunch, Uber will shut down its San Francisco operations and move employees to Pittsburgh, where its autonomous car research is located. The company said in a statement that it intends to continue to explore autonomous vehicle technology using passenger cars as foundational research units, but will maintain relationships with trucking OEMs as this technology matures.

Uber’s autonomous truck efforts have been hampered by controversy and legal battles since the company acquired the business unit from Otto in 2016. The acquisition later became the subject of an intellectual property lawsuit by Google, citing the role of Anthony Levandowski, the co-founder of Otto, who was a head engineer at Waymo, Google’s self-driving car spinoff, before leaving to concentrate on the new company. Waymo accused Levandowski of taking trade secrets, in the form of photos, schematics, and emails, with him and providing them to Uber. The lawsuit eventually contributed to  the resignation of Travis Kalanick, co-founder of Uber, as CEO in 2017.

Uber denies that it ever possessed any of the intellectual property, however, it agreed to settle the suit in February by paying Waymo approximately $245 million, and by promising to never use any of Waymo’s confidential information in any of its products.

Ad Loading...

Lawsuits weren’t the only forces working against Uber’s autonomous truck research. In March, an Uber autonomous research vehicle was involved in a fatal accident in Tempe, Arizona., resulting in negative press coverage of autonomous vehicle research and a temporary suspension of tests on public roads pending a review of safety procedures.

The company’s decision to suspend research into autonomous vehicles comes a week after the company restarted testing its passenger cars on public roads in Pittsburgh. Currently, the company is running and evaluating self-driving Volvo XC90 vehicles. According to Uber, the vehicles are only being driven manually by humans and under a new set of safety standards that include real-time monitoring of its test drivers and efforts to beef up simulation.


Related: Uber Highlights Self-Driving Truck Hauling Goods Cross Country

More Equipment

Closeup of engine in Mack truck
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeMay 13, 2026

Mack Unveils EPA 2027-Compliant MP13 Engine With More Power, Better Fuel Economy

Along with unveiling its EPA 2027-compliant MP13 engine, Mack outlined powertrain changes across its Class 6-8 lineup, including new Cummins-based X10 engines.

Read More →
Kodiak Driver-equipped Roehl Transport tractor-trailer.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseMay 11, 2026

Kodiak and Roehl Transport Launch Autonomous Route Between Dallas and Houston

Kodiak AI and Roehl Transport have begun autonomous freight operations on a regular Dallas-Houston route, marking another step toward Kodiak’s planned driverless launch by the end of 2026.

Read More →
Peterbilt-Kodiak autonomous truck.
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeMay 8, 2026

Autonomous Trucks at ACT Expo 2026

Autonomous trucks commanded a lot of attention from attendees at ACT Expo this year. Check out this photo gallery.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Crowd at Volvo booth at ACT Expo
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeMay 8, 2026

How Volvo’s New D13 Engine Meets EPA 2027 Emissions Without Sacrificing Power or Fuel Efficiency

Volvo says advances in combustion and aftertreatment helped its new EPA 2027 D13 engine avoid the fuel-economy penalties many once expected from tighter NOx emissions limits.

Read More →
Fleet Advantage Truck Life Cycle Data Index chart comparing operating costs, fuel savings and total cost of ownership for Class 8 truck model years 2022 through 2028.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseMay 7, 2026

Fleet Advantage TLDI Highlights Rising Costs of Aging Fleet Equipment Amid Higher Diesel Prices

Fleet Advantage’s latest Truck Life Cycle Data Index shows fleets operating older Class 8 trucks could face significantly higher costs as diesel prices rise, while newer 2028 equipment may deliver savings of more than $12,000 per truck annually.

Read More →
Two men in chairs on stage with big video screen behind them showing Tesla Semi
Fuel Smartsby Deborah LockridgeMay 7, 2026

'TCO’s Here.' Tesla Says Electric Semi Economics Are Ready for the Mainstream

Tesla’s Semi chief at ACT Expo outlined production growth, lower-cost models, charging expansion, and why the company believes fleets are leaving money on the table by waiting on electric trucks.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Front view of a Mack Granite heavy-duty truck featuring the new ImpactShield windshield with Corning Fusion5 Glass technology.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseMay 6, 2026

Mack Trucks Debuts Mack ImpactShield Windshield Technology on All-new Mack Granite and Expanded New Truck Lineup

Mack Trucks is introducing ImpactShield, the first Class 8 truck windshield to use Corning Fusion5 Glass, designed to improve durability, reduce damage and help fleets minimize downtime.

Read More →
Aurora and Volvo Dallas-Oklahoma City autonomous truck route.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseMay 5, 2026

Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Aurora Begin Dallas - Oklahoma City Route

Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Aurora expand their freight network with a new Dallas–Oklahoma City route, moving closer to scaled driverless operations.

Read More →
Gray Volvo tractor pulling trailer on open highway
Fuel Smartsby Deborah LockridgeMay 1, 2026

New High-Horsepower Natural Gas Engine Could Expand Fleet Options

Westport and Volvo are demonstrating a 500-hp truck with diesel-like efficiency — one that also offers what Westport says is a better pathway to using hydrogen fuel in trucks.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Aurora Innovation self-driving truck.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseApril 30, 2026

Hirschbach Announces Plan to Deploy 500 Aurora Autonomous Trucks

Hirschbach and Aurora Innovation have inked a non-binding deal outlining a path to deploy 500 Aurora Driver-powered trucks into fleet operations.

Read More →