I don't think Uber's valuation is based on autonomous cars. That would be a really stupid bet for investors.
Autonomous cars are a side bet. A few hundred millions in R&D that would also attract good talent and nice PR for Uber.
But I don't think investors were stupid enough to invest billions into Uber based on that bet. Specially considering the fact that anyone who gets that technology first can make it big and Google had a few years of head start.
Uber's valuation has to be based on an anticipation of autonomous vehicles. Otherwise, whether self-driving cars arrive in 5 years or 10, investors are putting money into a horse-and-buggy company.
Not necessarily. If your projection is that widespread autonomous vehicles don't arrive for 30 years, there is a lot of money in the meantime to be made being a horse-and-buggy company.
Autonomous cars are a side bet. A few hundred millions in R&D that would also attract good talent and nice PR for Uber.
But I don't think investors were stupid enough to invest billions into Uber based on that bet. Specially considering the fact that anyone who gets that technology first can make it big and Google had a few years of head start.