It's phase two (2020+). Once the tech is ready, Uber will have to order at an enormous scale with large discounts from whoever gets the contract. There were rumors that Uber considers Daimler as a car hardware platform partner.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-daimler-uber-idUSKCN0WK1C8
However, quickly there will be many new local competitors. Who wouldn't start such a business in their own local town anywhere? Buy a few cheaper autonomous cars (10 Model III+upgrades) and have them drive around your neighborhood. Call it 'EcoGreenCar LLC'. There will certainly even be an open source software platform to manage autonomous micro fleets.
However, quickly there will be many new local competitors. Who wouldn't start such a business in their own local town anywhere? Buy a few cheaper autonomous cars (10 Model III+upgrades) and have them drive around your neighborhood. Call it 'EcoGreenCar LLC'. There will certainly even be an open source software platform to manage autonomous micro fleets.