Uber’s Plunge: A Lyft-Driven Autopsy

There I was, standing in the rain outside a Whole Foods, phone in hand, waiting for an Uber that would never come. Instead, a Lyft pulled up, driven by a man who looked like he’d just stepped out of a Wes Anderson film. “You’re late,” he said, not unkindly. It’s moments like these that make me wonder: Is the ride-hailing war a battle for convenience, or just a particularly awkward family reunion where everyone’s wearing the same sweater?

The self-driving war heats up

Waymo, that most earnest of autonomous vehicle startups, has declared Nashville its latest frontier. The plan? Begin with its own app, then, in a move that smells faintly of betrayal, integrate with Lyft. I imagine the Uber boardroom reaction: a mix of “Oh no” and “We’ve seen this movie.” After all, they’ve partnered with Waymo before. Now, it’s Lyft’s turn to play host. It’s like musical chairs, but with self-driving cars and no music. Someone’s going to sit on the floor, and it won’t be pretty.

D.A. Davidson’s Gil Luria, bless his analytical heart, put it best: “Waymo is ahead of the curve, arguably by far, in terms of having the best driver.” Let’s unpack that. Waymo’s driver isn’t a person-it’s a meticulously coded algorithm. And algorithms, unlike my nephew at Thanksgiving, don’t get distracted by a half-eaten candy cane. Still, deploying this “driver” through Lyft feels like inviting a guest speaker to a family dinner who then outshines everyone. Uber shareholders, I imagine, are now mentally drafting thank-you notes for Waymo’s “generous” betrayal.

Uber has a lot riding on autonomous

Uber’s stock has climbed nearly 50% this year, a feat I can only attribute to hope and the occasional caffeine IV drip. Much of that optimism hinges on Uber positioning itself as the go-to platform for autonomous tech. But when your rival starts dating your ex, the market yawns and walks out. It’s not just a PR problem-it’s a strategic one. If Waymo and Lyft can offer the same infrastructure, what’s to stop the next upstart from waltzing in with a better playlist and cheaper snacks?

That said, I’ve learned not to bet against Uber. They’ve survived fare wars, regulatory tantrums, and my own misguided attempts to use their app during a snowstorm. The autonomous space isn’t a zero-sum game-it’s a buffet. Some will overfill their plates; others will leave hungry. But history suggests Uber, for all its stumbles, still knows how to find a seat at the table. I’ll keep my shares. Mostly because I’m terrible at selling things, even when they’re slowly depreciating in my hands.

Still, if you see a Nashville-bound Waymo, wave. It might just be the future picking you up. 🚗

2025-09-17 18:57

The self-driving war heats up

Uber has a lot riding on autonomous

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