Washington (United States) (AFP) – The Uber platform announced on Wednesday that it was shedding around 10% of its workforce as part of a vast reorganization which also saw it leave two countries, in the midst of an investment phase for autonomous robotaxis.

Published on: 09/02/2026 - 7:11 p.m. Modified on: 09/02/2026 - 7:45 p.m.

“Today, we are making a number of significant organizational changes within Uber,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, the CEO of the American company in a message to his employees.

“As a result, we will reduce our team size by approximately 10%,” he added.

The company had indicated in a document addressed to the American financial policeman (SEC) that it brought together, with its subsidiaries, "around 34,000 employees" in more than 70 countries.

With these more than 3,000 departures, Uber is seeking in particular to “remove hierarchical levels” and “simplify team structures”.

"Over the past five-plus years, Uber has grown exponentially...we have become a much bigger and stronger company. But with that growth has also come increased complexity," Khosrowshahi said.

Founded in 2009, the company became known through its reservation platform for passenger cars with drivers (VTC). Its arrival on the French market in 2011 caused a stir, with the company then being targeted by several legal proceedings, including complaints for unfair competition launched by taxi drivers.

Uber has since expanded into food delivery, with Uber Eats, and recently unveiled a feature allowing you to book a hotel room directly from its app.

Robotaxis

“The changes we are implementing today have two objectives: to simplify and accelerate the way Uber operates, and to create more room to invest in our future,” assured its CEO.

Analysts at WedBush Securities estimate that this departure wave will save the company approximately $1.75 billion annually.

Uber for its part did not share figures on the savings made but indicated that it wanted to redirect its capital to “innovate in all of our main activities and (…) build the future of autonomous driving”.

The company notably plans to spend up to $10 billion in the coming years on autonomous vehicles, the equivalent of its 2025 net profit.

To operate driverless robotaxis, it is already associated with several start-ups such as the Croatian Verne or the British Wayve.

The platform also plans to buy up to 50,000 robotaxis from the electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian, in which it has taken an equity stake.

At the beginning of August, Uber's financial director indicated that purchasing commitments now amount to around 120,000 vehicles, all brands combined.

The American giant also announced its departure with immediate effect from Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, and Uganda.

He also scolded his employees to return to his offices, now only authorizing around “1% of employees” to remain teleworking.

The stock rose 2.25% to $76.93 on Wall Street around 4:50 p.m. GMT.

© 2026 AFP

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