Uber is in the process of arranging its first ever acquisition deal, Digital Spy reveals.

The app-based transportation service is looking to buy mapping company deCarta, in an apparent bid to stem its reliance on Google Maps.

Despite Google being an investor in Uber, the latter has reportedly opened a robotics research facility to develop self-driving cars, while the former is said to be working on its own self-driving taxi service.

DeCarta would give Uber a choice of location and map services, as well as in-map search, location APIs, turn-by-turn navigation and more.

The company confirmed its intentions in a statement, saying: "A lot of the functionality that makes the Uber app so reliable, affordable and seamless is based on mapping technologies.

"With the acquisition of deCarta, we will continue to fine-tune our products and services that rely on maps - for example UberPOOL, the way we compute ETAs, and others - and make the Uber experience even better for our users."

75% of the staff at deCarta - including CEO and President Kim Fennell - are expected to transition over once the deal is complete.