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Even if they aren't paying any drivers?

The drivers in Uber handle more than just the driving - they essentially handle all the other logistics of offering a taxi service. They keep the car clean, they handle any regular maintenance and servicing, they store the car when it's not in use, they manage registration and insurance, they manage any insurance claims, they fix any damage, they mop up the vomit, etc.

Once Uber goes self driving, they take on responsibility for all of these logistical activities, and they currently have no capability and capacity to do that. These activities only scale so far.

> Once Uber goes self driving, they take on responsibility for all of these logistical activities

Why would they need to do that. They're a software company, they have explicitly demonstrated no motivation to take on this work.

It's really not hard to envision them partnering with an existing bricks and mortar to provide those services - e.g. car rental companies provision through their hubs, or uhaul steps into the game and their franchise owners become uber hubs.

I really feel this is the obvious endgame, but who is to say.

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