Uber is undergoing a major change to bridge the gap between innovation and scalability. At the centre of this evolution is its Growth Bets Team, a unit tasked not with incremental progress, but with unlocking step-change growth.
This team isn’t just handling day-to-day ride-hailing operations. Instead, they’re focused on building 0-to-1 business lines, entering uncharted markets, and launching entirely new products designed to scale fast and wide.
It’s a rare strategy in tech, and it’s already paying off. According to Uber’s Investor, the company’s revenue surged by 18%, rising from approximately $10.7 billion in Q2 2024 to $12.7 billion in Q2 2025.
In a press con recently, Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO at Uber, said, “Our platform strategy is working, with record audience, frequency, and profitability across Mobility and Delivery. But we’re still only beginning to unlock the platform’s full potential.”
Uber’s new direction revolves around three connected pillars: mobility, autonomy, and freight, each showing signs of sustainable growth. Here’s how Uber is putting that strategy into action in each pillar:
Uber is making major moves in mobility through alliances with Lucid Group and Nuro, positioning itself to shape the autonomous vehicle (AV) revolution.
Lucid’s upcoming Gravity SUV, boasting a 450-mile range and a modular interior, is built for the future of autonomous ride-sharing. Meanwhile, Nuro’s robotic delivery expertise adds a new layer to Uber’s last-mile delivery ecosystem.
This creates a dual approach: autonomous solutions for people and packages. Uber is building a mobility operating system, an integrated digital platform that powers ride-hailing, delivery, logistics, and autonomy under one ecosystem.
Uber’s autonomous ambitions are going global. In partnership with Baidu’s Apollo, Uber is expanding its AV operations across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Apollo Go already operates over 1,000 driverless vehicles in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, while WeRide is preparing to launch in 15 new cities. These developments underscore Uber’s mission to become the default AV platform outside of China.
With Baidu’s autonomous tech in its network, Uber is working to make self-driving rides more accessible and reliable, turning what once felt like science fiction into a daily option for millions of customers.
In the freight sector, Uber has unveiled a suite of AI tools as part of its expanding Uber Freight platform. Headlining the launch is Insights AI, a logistics-focused LLM designed to analyse supply chain data at speed and near-perfect accuracy.
After early success with companies like Colgate-Palmolive, which used the tools to spot inefficiencies and streamline operations, Uber Freight is now rolling out 30+ AI agents to support freight tasks end-to-end.
What started as a digital freight brokerage has become a full-service supply chain intelligence provider, capable of turning weeks of manual logistics analysis into real-time, actionable insights.
Taken together, these initiatives are not just experiments; they’re all connected. They signal a larger ambition: to go beyond ride-hailing and build the digital backbone for how people, goods, and businesses move across the world.
With the Growth Bets Team, Uber’s efforts in AV deployment, logistics AI, and platform unification are reshaping mobility on a global scale.
Hear from Praveen Ramaswamy, Growth Bets Lead – EMEA Mobility, Uber at Unlocked: Mobile & App Growth Summit Amsterdam.

Vibha Thusu is a seasoned marketing and communications leader with over 21 years of experience at the intersection of technology, brand strategy, and business growth. She has worked across diverse industries including IT & Services, FMCG, Energy Management, Electrical, & Industrial Automation. She currently serves as the Global Marketing & Communications Program Leader (Industrial Automation E-commerce) at Schneider Electric, where she drives strategic communications, demand generation, and cohesive internal engagement across IA Distribution & eCommerce Lines of Business. A Schneider Electric veteran of 16 years, she previously led global marketing, communications, and e-commerce for an independent brand under the SE umbrella, accelerating market expansion and brand equity across more than 65 countries.

Suad Merchant is the Global Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at GEMS Education, where she leads global marketing, brand strategy, and communications. In this role, she reinforces GEMS Education’s reputation as a trusted, family-run institution delivering world-class education with heart and vision. Her mandate goes beyond communications, she is a key driver of business growth and impact, ensuring GEMS continues to lead in a sector critical to regional and global development.
Previously, Suad was the Global Head of Brand & Growth Marketing, Partnerships, and Corporate Communications at Mashreq, the UAE’s oldest bank with a presence in 15 countries. She defined and executed the bank’s global brand and marketing strategy, corporate communications, strategic partnerships, and ESG marketing. Suad also played a pivotal role in shaping Mashreq’s strategic vision, acting as brand custodian, and steering its customer-centric digital transformation. Under her leadership, Mashreq was recognized as the fastest-growing brand in the Middle East by Brand Finance in 2024.

Ravi Raman, a TEDx speaker and no stranger to a stage, is a media professional with more than two decades of content strategy, brand marketing and team leadership experience.
He launched the regional editions of world-renowned brands such as Wired and Bloomberg Businessweek, and his reach has extended to other leading publications from the New York Times to India Today.

Hazem graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from The American University in Cairo in 2002. Since then, he has developed a passion for and built a career in connecting the business world with technology.
He has led projects across all areas of the digital mix including web platforms, mobile solutions, social media, content, performance marketing, search engine optimization and marketing, paid digital advertising and programmatic, data and analytics, CRM, and ecommerce… making him not only an advocate but also a hands-on practitioner of omni channel marketing. He has been a consultant to many brands, defining and implementing their digital transformation strategies, and implementing complex MarTech solutions to influence data-driven customer engagement comms throughout their lifecycle.

Harsha is a seasoned marketing professional with over 18 years of experience in global digital and traditional media marketing.
She has left a lasting impact on consulting, professional services, travel, and consumer products sectors. Notably, she established PwC’s digital marketing practice in the Middle East and led digital marketing for UAE’s cybersecurity firm DarkMatter (now Digital14).
Currently, at KPMG Lower Gulf, Harsha is driving the transformation of the firm’s digital marketing and enhancing customer experiences, showcasing her enduring commitment to innovation and excellence in the field.i and is the founder of WOA (Work Of Arts), a boutique consultancy and concept studio. He also supports early-stage ventures and owns hospitality businesses in Asia.

Aamir Allibhoy is the General Manager at SRMG | Labs, leading innovation and strategic growth initiatives within one of the region’s most influential media groups.
Aamir’s career spans more than two decades across marketing, creativity, and brand transformation. Prior to joining SRMG, he spent 21 years with Impact BBDO, where he served as General Manager for Saudi Arabia and worked with leading global brands including PepsiCo, Emirates, P&G, YUM, and others. He also played a key role in establishing the award-winning BBDO Pakistan office.

Gregoire is a senior innovation and customer experience leader with more than 20 years of experience transforming major organisations across Retail, Luxury, Government, Real Estate, Hospitality, and Mobility. Most recently, Group VP of Customer Experience & Innovation at Majid Al Futtaim, his career also includes senior roles at Chalhoub Group, Emaar, Air Liquide, Rexel, and Orange.
An entrepreneur and investor, he co-founded the European mobility startup Otoqi and is the founder of WOA (Work Of Arts), a boutique consultancy and concept studio. He also supports early-stage ventures and owns hospitality businesses in Asia.