Uber Fires Executive at Center of Self-Driving Car Legal Fight
Uber Technologies Inc. fired Anthony Levandowski, the engineer hired to lead its self-driving car efforts who is now at the center of a legal spat over the technology with Google parent Alphabet Inc.
Levandowski joined Uber in 2016 after several years at Google’s autonomous driving project, which is now called Waymo.
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His move to Uber is the subject of a contentious legal case facing Uber. Waymo filed charges against the ride-hailing startup alleging that Levandowski stole trade secrets and patents from Waymo for the development of self-driving technology, and brought it to Uber. Levandowski has invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to testify in the case.
In April, Uber replaced Levandowski as head of its self-driving program. The New York Times reported on Levandowski’s termination earlier May 30.