Weekly Roundup: Uber Implements Permanent Bans for Drivers with Violent Felony Convictions

Uber overhauls background checks with permanent bans on violent felons. Uber invests $100M in AV charging infrastructure. SFO rideshare rebounds to pre-pandemic highs, generating record fees. Colorado moves to crack down on disability discrimination by drivers. Analysts argue the market is undervaluing Uber’s platform moat. We break it all down for you.

Uber Implements Permanent Bans for Drivers with Violent Felony Convictions

Uber Implements Permanent Bans for Drivers with Violent Felony Conviction
Image credit: Adobe

Source: The New York Times

Following a December investigation exposing Uber’s approval of drivers with violent felony convictions, the company is overhauling its background check policies to permanently bar drivers convicted of violent felonies, sexual offenses, and child or elder abuse, regardless of when crimes occurred. NYT’s report also revealed Uber approved drivers in 22 states with assault, stalking, and child abuse convictions beyond seven years old, and received a sexual assault report every eight minutes on average between 2017 and 2022.

  • Uber faces over 3,000 pending sexual assault lawsuits and recently lost an $8.5 million verdict in Phoenix, with the jury rejecting its independent contractor defense.
  • Cases also include drivers with multiple felony convictions for assault with deadly weapons and armed robbery who were later reported for raping passengers.
  • California ballot initiatives and Virginia legislative bills are targeting stricter background check regulations in response to these findings.

Uber Commits $100 Million to Build Autonomous Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Uber Commits $100 Million to Build Autonomous Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Image credit: Adobe

Source: Reuters

Uber announced an investment exceeding $100 million to develop dedicated charging hubs for autonomous electric vehicles as part of its robotaxi push. The infrastructure rollout begins with DC fast charging stations in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Dallas before expanding to international markets, including Paris, Madrid, London, New York, San Francisco, and Boston, through partnerships with EVgo, Electra, Hubber, and Ionity.

  • Uber has partnered with over 20 companies globally on self-driving services, currently offering robotaxis in four U.S. cities plus Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh.
  • The company is implementing “utilization guarantee agreements” to support the deployment of hundreds of new chargers in high-demand locations.
  • Uber is committing capital directly to vehicle partners to secure early supply and accelerate deployments.

SFO Ride-Hailing Demand Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Generating Record $60 Million in Fees

SFO Ride-Hailing Demand Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels, Generating Record $60 Million in Fees
Image credit: Adobe

Source: SF Gate

San Francisco International Airport surpassed 1 million monthly Uber and Lyft riders for the first time since 2019 last October, generating over $60 million in rideshare fees for 2025. The milestone comes as Waymo received approval in late January to serve SFO, entering a market where Uber and Lyft move over 700,000 people monthly, with 2025’s total falling just 1 million short of 2019’s 11.5 million rides.

  • SFO charges a $6 fee per pickup and drop-off, with Waymo subject to the same fees, creating a $6 premium versus the nearby Millbrae BART station.
  • Uber maintains dominance over Lyft post-pandemic, while competitors like Wingz dropped from 1,200+ monthly rides in 2019 to barely 700 in 2025.
  • Airport rides represent 15% of Uber’s total bookings, with the Bay Area hosting the Super Bowl and World Cup games in 2026.

Colorado Bill Increases Penalties for Rideshare Discrimination Against Disabled Passengers

Colorado Bill Increases Penalties for Rideshare Discrimination Against Disabled Passengers
Image credit: Andrew Patrick/Pexels

Source: Fox 31 Colorado

Colorado’s House Business Affairs and Labor Committee advanced HB26-1043, legislation that would increase maximum penalties for rideshare companies to $1,300 per unresolved discrimination case and mandate in-app reporting with publicly available data. Advocates testified that drivers routinely refuse passengers with disabilities and guide dogs, leaving them in unsafe locations despite existing anti-discrimination policies.

  • The bill requires improved reporting systems within apps and public accessibility of discrimination data to track denials.
  • Uber stated it maintains a decade-old non-discrimination policy with investigations and permanent removal for violators.
  • Both Uber and Lyft representatives told lawmakers they are already working on improvements.

Analyst Argues Market Undervalues Uber’s Platform Moat Despite Robotaxi Competition

Analyst Argues Market Undervalues Uber’s Platform Moat Despite Robotaxi Competition
Image credit: freestocks.org/Pexels

Source: Seeking Alpha

Despite Uber’s stock declining over 30% amid robotaxi competition concerns, analyst commentary suggests the market overreacted by compressing Uber’s valuation to 22x earnings, below its 23x one-year average, while core businesses show strong growth with 200 million monthly active consumers from a 450 million annual base. While Waymo’s valuation surge to $126 billion nearly matches Uber’s $150 billion market cap, the analysis argues Uber’s platform economics and 20+ AV partnerships represent a formidable competitive moat.

  • Uber’s Q4 earnings showed solid metrics with mobility’s adjusted EBITDA 2.2x larger than delivery, making it foundational despite robotaxi uncertainties.
  • The company is expanding beyond the top 20 cities internationally while monetizing advertising and subscriptions.
  • Technical analysis shows Uber reached oversold levels for the first time since 2022, with the analyst maintaining a “Buy” rating and viewing the decline as an accumulation opportunity.

QUICK HITS

  • New York Gov. Kathy Hochul abandoned a proposal that would have allowed for commercial robotaxi pilot programs outside of New York City, dealing a blow to Waymo and other robotaxi operators. – CNBC
  • Over 50 Uber and Lyft drivers marched to the California State Office Building in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday to file wage theft complaints representing 10,000 workers who claim the rideshare companies have deprived them of millions of dollars in earned wages since 2016. – KNX
  • Want to learn more about the robotaxi industry? Subscribe to The Driverless Digest, our new newsletter and podcast dedicated to the future of autonomous vehicles.

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