The Washington, D.C., measure has become a flashpoint over jobs, hybrid autonomous vehicle networks and the future of Uber's partnership with Alphabet's Waymo.
Uber has emerged as an unexpected ally of labor unions in the fight over autonomous vehicle expansion, backing concerns that a Washington, D.C., bill does too little to address job losses for drivers even as it says autonomous vehicles can improve safety and lower costs. The proposed Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act would permit broad use of self-driving vehicles for passenger and goods transport in a city where gig driving is a major source of work. The employment debate is particularly charged in D.C., where as many as 35,000 gig drivers accounted for about 9% of the labor force based on 2024 data, while the wider metro area lost more than 100,000 jobs over a year, largely because of federal job cuts. Uber's Harry Hatfield, director of AV and AI policy, told a mid-July hearing that transportation will likely remain a hybrid system, with human drivers and autonomous vehicles operating side by side, and argued the bill overlooks workforce transition. He said studies in San Francisco and Los Angeles showed lower driver utilization and earnings last year when drivers competed with AV-only fleets, adding that one AV in California now does the work of roughly four drivers. The dispute also underscores growing tension between Uber and Waymo, whose partnership has shown signs of strain. The Financial Times reported a "souring" relationship, while CNBC said Austin and Atlanta arrangements are due to end in 2028. Uber argues rules are needed to preserve hybrid rideshare networks, while Waymo says riders, not regulators, should determine whether markets are hybrid or fully autonomous. Waymo has nonetheless said it would welcome clarifications allowing different network models in the District and has said it could hire hundreds of workers in D.C. if the bill passes. The alignment with organized labor is notable given Uber's long history of clashes with unions, including its more than $59 million push for California's Proposition 22 in 2020 to preserve driver independent-contractor status. Labor groups in the current debate remain skeptical of both tech companies, warning that autonomous vehicle expansion could cost hundreds or thousands of jobs and worsen congestion.