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

Lior Ron Joins Waabi as COO, Eyes Autonomous Trucking Expansion Across U.S.

Lior Ron, founder and CEO of Uber Freight, is joining self-driving truck startup Waabi as Chief Operating Officer, while continuing as chairman of Uber Freight. He believes the era of autonomous big rigs at scale has arrived, with technology ready to transform the freight industry. For Ron, this marks a shift from his decade-long effort digitalizing logistics with Uber Freight to now focusing on automation — the “most fundamental shift of the next decade.”

Waabi’s Deployment Plans
Waabi plans to have fully driverless trucks running freight routes in the U.S. Southwest by year’s end. The region was chosen for its heavy freight traffic and favorable weather conditions, covering states like Texas, Arizona, and California. The company aims to expand nationwide within five years, including all of North America.

Initially, Waabi has tested its autonomous systems with safety drivers, but Ron says trucks will operate without drivers by year’s end, beginning with specific routes and expanding rapidly. Waabi already carries commercial loads between Dallas and Houston and has been testing in Texas since 2023.

Partnerships and Industry Ties
Waabi’s founder and CEO, Raquel Urtasun, has known Ron for a decade and previously worked at Uber’s advanced technology unit. Uber is a major investor in Waabi, and Uber Freight is a key partner in testing its technology. Waabi also partners with Volvo, which is investing heavily in autonomous trucking. Other backers include Khosla Ventures, Nvidia, and Porsche Automobil.

Ron’s go-to-market focus will include strengthening foundational partnerships, onboarding new customers, and scaling operations. Waabi ranked No. 35 on CNBC’s 2025 Disruptor 50 list.

Economic and Operational Advantages
Ron predicts quick adoption of autonomous freight due to driver shortages and an aging trucking workforce (average driver age ~55). Long-haul trucking is seen as unattractive, and Waabi expects most human driving jobs to shift toward last-mile delivery, which remains complex for automation. Autonomous trucks can operate more than double the hours of traditional trucks, with lower costs, better safety, and greater fuel efficiency.

With scale, Ron says customers can recoup investments faster than with any other trucking fleet upgrade. Autonomous trucks will also help address the U.S.’s long-standing driver shortage without causing sudden job losses.

Regulatory Landscape
Self-driving regulation in the U.S. is mostly state-based. Texas has been a focus for Waabi due to favorable policies. However, recent discussions with the Department of Transportation show interest in developing a federal framework for faster commercialization, which could boost national rollout.

Future Vision
Waabi brands itself as a “physical AI” company, intending to expand beyond trucks into robotaxis, warehouse automation, and humanoid robots in the future. For now, the priority is scaling autonomous trucking and generating revenue. Waabi has no immediate plans for an IPO, citing capital efficiency and strong funding support.

Ron envisions that within five years, driverless freight trucks will be a common sight across U.S. supply chains, especially in the Sunbelt corridors, offering cost, safety, and efficiency benefits unmatched by traditional trucking.