Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER, XETRA:UT8) is strengthening its autonomous vehicle strategy through new robotaxi expansion plans in the United States and Europe, moves that Bank of America analysts believe could improve investor sentiment toward the company.
Uber recently announced plans to expand its autonomous vehicle partnerships to Houston with Nuro and Lucid, and to Zurich with WeRide. Bank of America analysts wrote that these developments enhance Uber's autonomous vehicle catalyst path, with five potentially notable launches across US and European cities expected in the second half of 2026.
The analysts maintained a ‘Buy’ rating on Uber shares, writing that successful launches could help shift the narrative around autonomous vehicle supply competition and support valuation expansion.
Uber stock has lagged the S&P 500 since mid-2025, according to the analysts, amid concerns about growing competition in autonomous driving from companies including Alphabet's Waymo and Tesla, as well as broader weakness in internet growth stocks.
Uber, Lucid and Nuro selected Houston as the second market for their robotaxi program after the San Francisco Bay Area, targeting an exclusive launch through the Uber platform by mid-2027.
The service is expected to use Lucid Gravity vehicles equipped with Nuro's Level 4 autonomous driving system. Uber has also secured a 50,000-square-foot depot and charging infrastructure in Houston to support fleet operations.
Bank of America analysts wrote that while some concerns remain regarding Nuro's technology and Lucid's ability to supply vehicles at scale, the Houston expansion suggests increasing confidence in future autonomous vehicle availability.
Separately, Uber and WeRide plan to launch a commercial robotaxi service in the Greater Zurich region later this year, subject to regulatory approval. Riders will be able to access the service through Uber's platform, while local partner Rydera will oversee fleet operations.
The Zurich deployment follows a recently announced expansion into Madrid and marks the fourth of 15 cities expected under the Uber-WeRide partnership. The companies have previously introduced robotaxi services in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh.
Bank of America analysts wrote that the planned 2026 deployment timeline is encouraging and indicates that additional cities under the partnership could be introduced during the first half of 2027.