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Tesla Rebuffed Uber Partnership on Self-Driving Cars in 2016

The ride-hailing company’s chief approached Elon Musk to work together, according to an upcoming book.

Video player cover image — How Uber's Controversial CEO Built an Empire

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May 16, 2017, 8:22 PM UTC

Uber Technologies Inc. Chief Executive Officer Travis Kalanick rang up Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk last year to propose a partnership on self-driving cars, according to an upcoming book.

The discussion came after Apple Inc. invested $1 billion in Didi Chuxing, then a fierce competitor of Uber in China. Kalanick pitched Musk on teaming up against Apple, according to Wild Ride, a book by Fortune magazine’s Adam Lashinsky scheduled for release next week.