Uber Technologies Inc. Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi today confirmed that the ride-hailing giant is on track to go public in 2019, confirming a commitment he made in August 2017.

In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Khosrowshahi (pictured) said the company is well-placed going into an initial public offering, saying that “we’re in a good position in terms of the company’s profile, in terms of profitability and margins continue to get better.”

“I do think that we’re on track in 2019 for an IPO,” he added. “Lots of things can happen in the world but we have a reasonable buffer as well, so I think we’re in a pretty good spot.”

The IPO may signal a break in the logjam that has seen the largest so-called unicorns hold off on going public. On Wednesday, Airbnb Inc. CEO Brian Chesky said his home-sharing company will be ready for an IPO in 2019, but he wasn’t yet sure if he would pull the trigger then.

Although skepticism about Uber is widespread and, given many of its problems, arguably well-founded, the company is nonetheless moving toward profitability.

Despite still technically being a startup, Uber has been releasing its financials every quarter for the last year and it reported an improving financial position May 23. While still losing money, the company booked an on-paper record profit based on its exit from the Southeast Asia and Russian markets and its loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization came in at $304 million, down 49 percent from the same quarter last year and 36 percent from the fourth quarter of 2017.

Khosrowshahi went on to tell CNBC that Uber is looking to build out the management team, rebuild the brand and improve the product before the company goes public, including hiring a chief financial officer.

The news comes at the same time famed investor Warren Buffett is reported to have attempted to invest $3 billion into the company, “but the talks fell apart following disagreements over the terms and size of the deal,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Buffett is claimed to have pitched the deal as one in which he “effectively lent Uber his sterling reputation, along with some capital, in exchange for cushy deal terms,” the report claimed. But having raised $21.7 billion to date, Uber declined the offer.

Photo: jurvetson/Flickr