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Mercedes to Supply Self-Driving Cars to Uber
Under a new partnership, Daimler AG plans to provide Mercedes-Benz self-driving vehicles to Uber Technologies Inc.’s ride-hailing fleet.
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Under a new partnership, Daimler AG plans to provide Mercedes-Benz self-driving vehicles to Uber Technologies Inc.’s ride-hailing fleet.
Daimler will develop the autonomous technology used in the vehicles. No timetable or financial terms for the program were given.
Last year Uber announced a $300 million deal with Volvo Car Corp., which is supplying vehicles for Uber to retrofit with its own automated driving technology. Those vehicles are part of Uber’s test fleet in Arizona and Pennsylvania that also includes specially equipped Ford Fusion sedans.
Noting that Uber has no experience in making cars, CEO Travis Kalanick says partnerships with manufacturers such as Daimler will be critical for the Silicon Valley-based company’s success. Uber hopes to lower costs and improve efficiency with self-driving taxis.
Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche has met with Kalanick several times in recent years and once described him as a "frenemy." Zetsche says mobility service providers such as Uber are an ideal platform for autonomous driving technology.
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