content: Not really their direct goal but like most companies they want to lower costs. Many do this by cutting workforce, Uber needs the number of vehicles on the road so the option is to reduce the cost of those vehicles in this case they are cutting the part that charges them per mile the driver the other options would be to reduce what they pay the driver or raise the rate. It remains to be seen how this will work out in the long run, as they are betting the upfront cost of vehicles will be less then the long term cost of the drivers. I can only think of the number of tables with gum stuck under them as a standard of how people treat the temporary places they sit. What will these cars without a driver in them look like after 6 months of operation?