Uber slashes 3,300 jobs as it streamlines for robotaxi push: Report
The ride-hailing giant is trimming 10% of its workforce to fund an autonomous vehicle push that could redefine how the company makes money.
Uber Technologies is cutting 10% of its global workforce in a major restructuring that will shrink management ranks, merge teams and push more capital toward its ride-hailing, delivery and autonomous-vehicle businesses, according to Bloomberg News, which obtained an email from CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announcing the changes.
About 3,300 employees will lose their jobs under the changes announced by CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, while the number of managers will fall by 20%. Uber said the company’s rapid growth has left it with too many layers of management, duplicated responsibilities and fragmented decision-making.
The company plans to reduce its number of employees sitting seven or more layers below the CEO by 20% and nearly halve its smallest one- or two-person teams, according to the report. It is also consolidating its operations, including combining the delivery teams responsible for restaurants, retail and direct delivery under unified leadership. Core Services Engineering and Science teams will likewise be combined.
Uber is simultaneously changing its location strategy. The company intends to concentrate its global teams in major hubs such as New York and San Francisco, regional and local teams in designated hubs, and technology employees in tech centers. Most remote workers will be asked to return to offices, leaving only about 1% of employees eligible to work remotely.
AI, tech, and the markets they move—in one daily briefing.
Daily. Free. Join 34,000+ readers across crypto, finance, and policy.
Khosrowshahi said the leaner structure should make Uber faster and clarify accountability while producing savings that can be reinvested in its future. The company plans to increase investment in its drivers, couriers and merchants, improve its core businesses and accelerate work toward an autonomous future.
The restructuring comes as Uber ramps up its autonomous-vehicle strategy. The company has pledged more than $10 billion for robotaxi partnerships and has backed autonomous-driving and vehicle companies including Avride, Lucid, Nuro and Rivian.
The cuts follow more targeted reductions in customer service and human resources this year and represent the company’s largest workforce reduction since the Covid-19 pandemic.