Uber has formed an alliance with ride-hailing driver unions in an effort to slow the rollout of competing robotaxi services. The move comes as the company faces growing pressure from autonomous vehicles operated by rivals such as Waymo.

Financial Times reporting published today detailed how Uber has coordinated with unions on lobbying efforts in multiple jurisdictions. The company and the unions have advocated for rules that would require a high percentage of rides to remain with human drivers during a transition period.

In New Jersey, Uber lobbyists have promoted legislation that would mandate human drivers handle 85 percent of rideshare trips on platforms offering robotaxis for the next three years. Similar joint pressure in Washington, D.C., has targeted bills that would accelerate autonomous vehicle deployment.

Uber has also called for hybrid networks in which ride-hailing platforms maintain control over mixed fleets of human-driven cars and autonomous vehicles. Company executives have testified that the future of transportation involves both human drivers and autonomous technology rather than a rapid shift to fully driverless operations.

The alliance marks a shift for Uber, which has long clashed with driver groups over classification, pay, and working conditions. The company acknowledged the apparent irony in its new partnerships while emphasizing shared interests in managing the pace of technological change.

Driver unions have cited concerns over job losses and earnings as robotaxis expand in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Waymo's operations have already reduced Uber's market share in some areas, contributing to investor concerns about the company's position in the evolving sector.

Uber continues to invest billions in its own autonomous vehicle initiatives through partnerships with manufacturers and technology firms. At the same time, the company is supporting measures that would give human-driven services more time to compete.

State-level union certifications, such as the recent recognition of drivers in Massachusetts, have occurred alongside these debates. Unions in other states have also pushed for collective bargaining rights while highlighting automation risks.

The coordinated efforts have contributed to delays or modifications in proposed autonomous vehicle rules in several locations, according to reports on lobbying activities.