Competing with Elon Musk not easy, says Uber CEO; here's what he would want to do

In a recent interview, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi acknowledged the formidable competitive presence of Elon Musk , particularly in the segment of self-driving cars . However, he also expressed a surprising willingness to collaborate with Tesla , the electric car company led by Musk.

In an interview with Financial Times, Khosrowshahi admitted, "Obviously, competing with Elon Musk is no easy matter, and we take nothing for granted; we really want to partner with the autonomous industry." He went on to praise Tesla's technological advancements and its potential role in the future of transportation.

Despite the competitive landscape, Khosrowshahi's comments suggest Uber's openness to working with Tesla on self-driving car technology. "We'd love to have it on the platform, but if not, I don't think this is going to be a winner-take-all marketplace," he said regarding potentially integrating Tesla's robotaxis with the Uber app.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has outlined three potential paths for Uber once Tesla launches its robotaxis:

Direct Competition: Uber could compete directly with Tesla in the self-driving car market.

Collaboration: Uber could partner with Tesla and integrate its robotaxis into its platform.

Combination: Uber could combine elements of both competition and collaboration.

Khosrowshahi emphasised that the decision depends on Tesla's actions. He noted that Uber already has many Tesla EVs on its platform, which drivers appreciate. "We'd love to have it on the platform, but if not, I don't think this is going to be a winner-take-all marketplace. We believe in the spirit of partnership; we'll see what Tesla does,” added Khosrowshahi.

After discontinuing its own self-driving car development in 2020, Uber has formed partnerships with leading autonomous vehicle companies: Waymo and Cruise. These partnerships allow Uber to offer self-driving car services in specific regions, leveraging the expertise of these specialised companies.