Uber is increasingly repositioning its global business around food delivery and autonomous technology as the company restructures its operations and withdraws from some African markets, including Nigeria. The shift comes as Uber prepares to invest heavily in robotaxis while expanding its delivery business through its proposed $14.8 billion acquisition of Delivery Hero, a move that would extend its combined platform to 99 markets worldwide.
The strategic change became particularly evident after Uber announced its decision to end ride hailing operations in Nigeria and Uganda on September 2, following a review of its business. The company did not disclose specific reasons for the exits, which came amid rising operating costs and increasingly competitive ride hailing markets. Uber said the decision was limited to the two countries and would not affect its remaining operations elsewhere in Africa.
At the same time, Uber is committing significant resources to autonomous mobility. The company has said it expects autonomous vehicles to operate alongside conventional drivers on its platform, while its autonomous strategy also covers delivery through self driving vehicles, sidewalk robots and drones. Uber has already launched Uber Autonomous Solutions to help technology partners commercialise autonomous vehicles and scale their operations.
The shift has also been accompanied by a major restructuring, with Uber announcing plans to cut about 3,300 corporate jobs, representing roughly 10 per cent of its workforce, as it seeks to simplify its operations and free resources for future investments. For Africa, the strategy signals a changing role for Uber, from its earlier emphasis on conventional ride hailing towards a broader technology platform built around delivery, artificial intelligence and autonomous mobility.