Is Uber's Robotaxi Deal With Japan's Hinomaru Kotsu a Growth Catalyst?

Uber Technologies UBER announced that Uber Japan has entered into an operational partnership with taxi operator Hinomaru Kotsu Co., Ltd. Hinomaru Kotsu will manage daily fleet operations for Uber’s autonomous-vehicle pilot in Tokyo, which is scheduled to launch in late 2026. Its responsibilities will include depot management, vehicle cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging and ensuring vehicle availability. Uber will make the rides accessible through its global ride-hailing app.

The initiative follows the robotaxi partnership Memorandum of Understanding signed on March 12, 2026, by Uber, Wayve and Nissan Motor. The pilot will use Nissan LEAF vehicles equipped with Wayve’s AI Driver technology, enabling riders to experience advanced robotaxi services as an everyday transportation option.

Japanese law requires authorized taxi companies to operate passenger transportation services. The initiative will comply fully with all domestic laws, regulations and licensing requirements. Uber will provide its ride-matching platform and operational support tools, while Hinomaru Kotsu will act as the authorized operator and manage the fleet.

Safety will remain the highest priority during the pilot’s initial phase. Experienced Hinomaru Kotsu drivers will sit behind the wheel as safety operators to monitor the vehicles and support reliable operations. This phased approach will precede any future introduction of fully driverless services, which will remain subject to regulatory approval.

If the partnership materializes as planned, Uber will benefit by expanding its autonomous-mobility presence in Japan without directly assuming the responsibilities reserved for licensed taxi operators. The arrangement will combine Uber’s customer reach, matching technology and operational tools with Hinomaru Kotsu’s local fleet expertise and regulatory authorization. This move will also allow Uber to test robotaxi operations in Tokyo’s complex driving environment, strengthen its collaboration with Nissan and Wayve, gather valuable operational experience and prepare for a potential transition to fully driverless services.

Taking a Look at Some Other AV Deals of Uber

In June, Uber, in collaboration with WeRide WRD, a Chinese autonomous vehicle company, announced plans to introduce commercial robotaxi services in the Greater Zurich Region. This move represents their second joint deployment in Europe, coming just weeks after the announcement of a similar initiative in Madrid.

The service is expected to commence later this year in partnership with Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office (“FEDRO”), pending regulatory approvals. At launch, passengers will be able to access the robotaxi service through the Uber app. The launch builds on the partners’ growing track record in autonomous mobility.

Since December 2024, WeRide and Uber have introduced robotaxi services across several Middle Eastern markets, including fully driverless commercial operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as public services in Riyadh. These deployments provide an operational foundation for their European expansion. In November 2024, WeRide obtained a driverless permit from FEDRO, allowing autonomous vehicle operations on public roads in Zurich’s Furttal region.

Earlier in the year, Uber entered into a strategic partnership with Amazon’s AMZN Zoox to deploy its purpose-built robotaxis on the former’s platform. The Amazon unit’s robotaxis differ from many other autonomous vehicles currently in development because they are not modified versions of traditional passenger cars. Instead, the vehicles are purpose-built specifically for ride-hailing services and designed to enhance rider comfort and social interaction. The Amazon unit and Uber indicated that Zoox rides are expected to be available in Los Angeles next year.

UBER’s Share Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates

Shares of UBER have declined in single digits (% wise) so far this year. Due to the downbeat performance, UBER’s shares have underperformed the Zacks Internet-Services industry over the same time frame.

YTD Price Comparison

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From a valuation standpoint, UBER trades at a 12-month forward price-to-sales of 2.41X. UBER is inexpensive compared with its industry.

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See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Uber’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.

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Uber’s Zacks Rank

Uber currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 

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