Uber Lobbies to Slow Rival Robotaxi Apps Through 'Hybrid Network' Laws

Executive Briefing

• Reveals Uber lobbyists pushed New Jersey legislation requiring 85% of rides use human drivers for three years
• Restricts standalone robotaxi apps, effectively forcing Waymo, Zoox, and Tesla onto third-party platforms like Uber
• Positions Uber as a commercial middleman for all AV players rather than a self-driving technology developer
• Strains Uber-Waymo partnership as both companies publicly clash over autonomous vehicle policy direction
• Frames lobbying as worker protection and anti-monopoly, despite critics seeing it as competitive self-interest