Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:UBER) shares traded higher in Thursday’s premarket session after the company expanded its autonomous vehicle operations in Japan.
Uber Partners With Hinomaru Kotsu For Tokyo Robotaxi Pilot
Uber Japan signed an operational partnership with Hinomaru Kotsu Co., Ltd. to manage fleet operations for a Tokyo robotaxi pilot scheduled to launch in late 2026.
Hinomaru Kotsu will oversee depot operations, vehicle cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging and vehicle uptime. Uber will make the rides available through its ride-hailing app.
The pilot will use Nissan LEAF vehicles equipped with Wayve’s AI Driver technology and builds on a March 12, 2026 memorandum of understanding among Uber, Wayve and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. for a robotaxi partnership in Japan.
Safety And Regulatory Framework
Under the arrangement, Hinomaru Kotsu will act as the authorized taxi operator in accordance with Japanese passenger transport laws and licensing requirements. At the same time, Uber will provide its matching platform and operational support tools.
Experienced Hinomaru Kotsu drivers will initially remain behind the wheel as safety operators. Fully driverless operations could follow in the future, subject to regulatory approval.
"We are very happy to partner with Hinomaru Kotsu—a deeply trusted operator—to bring this pilot deployment to life in Tokyo," said Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery.
UBER Technicals Signal Improving Momentum
The stock is currently trading at $75.47, which is about 5.3% above its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) of $71.77.
Despite this positive positioning, the 50-day SMA is at $72.08, indicating a bearish crossover as the 20-day SMA is below the 50-day SMA.
Momentum indicators show that the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) is above its signal line, suggesting that downside pressure is easing, which may support a potential upward trend.
The stock has faced a significant decline of 17.03% over the past 12 months, indicating a challenging year despite recent gains.
- Key Resistance: $78.50 — a nearby level where rebounds can stall.
- Key Support: $69.50 — a nearby level where buyers previously stepped in.
Wall Street Remains Bullish On Uber
The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price forecast of $103.95. Recent analyst moves include:
- Roth Capital: Buy (Lowers Target to $100.00) (August 10)
- Jefferies: Buy (Raises Target to $110.00) (August 10)
- DA Davidson: Buy (Lowers Target to $100.00) (August 6)
UBER ETF Exposure: Funds With The Largest Allocations
- Invesco Nasdaq Internet ETF (NASDAQ:PNQI): 4.62% Weight
- Pacer US Cash Cows Growth ETF (NYSE:BUL): 5.31% Weight
- Pathfinder Focused Opportunities ETF (NASDAQ:PFOE): 4.72% Weight
Significance: Because UBER carries significant weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.
UBER Stock Price Activity: Uber Technologies shares were trading 0.45% higher at $75.70 during premarket trading on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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