Uber Freight CEO Joins Waabi, Declares Autonomous Big Rig Era Has Arrived in the U.S.

Lior Ron, founder and CEO of Uber Freight, is joining self-driving truck startup Waabi as COO while remaining Uber Freight chairman. He believes autonomous big rigs are ready for large-scale deployment, starting in the U.S. Southwest by year-end, expanding nationwide in five years. Waabi, partnered with Volvo and Uber Freight, plans fully driverless freight routes, citing higher efficiency, safety, and lower costs than traditional trucking. Ron expects rapid adoption due to driver shortages and aging workforce. Last-mile delivery will remain human-driven for now. Waabi aims to scale trucking first before expanding AI to other sectors, with no IPO plans.