Uber backs Nuro in fresh self-driving push

Uber is reportedly committing nearly $500 million to self-driving startup Nuro.

The move suggests Uber is still serious about autonomy, but with a different playbook from the old self-driving lab days. Instead of trying to own every layer internally, Uber can back and partner with specialist autonomy companies.

For mobility startups, this is a useful signal. Autonomous driving is still capital-heavy and technically brutal, but the commercial routes are becoming more partnership-led. Less solo moonshot, more strategic Lego set.