Uber users in Austin and Atlanta will be able to hail a Waymo robotaxi through the app in early 2025 as part of an expanded partnership between the two companies.
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles have been available on the Uber app in Phoenix since October 2023. This expansion comes at a time when Uber has been snapping up self-driving partnerships across its ride-sharing and delivery verticals. Last month, Uber announced partnerships with GM’s Cruise and the U.K.’s Wayve.
Waymo operates its own commercial self-driving ride service, Waymo One, in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, offering about 100,000 rides per week, according to the company. The Alphabet-owned self-driving car company began testing robotaxis in Atlanta and shuttling its own employees in Austin earlier this year — typically Waymo’s first steps before it begins offering the Waymo One service in new markets. With this partnership, however, Waymo’s fleet of Jaguar I-Pace vehicles will only be available to order through Uber in Austin and Atlanta.
Waymo said that in the coming weeks, a limited number of early riders will be able to access rides in Austin and Atlanta through the Waymo One app.
Waymo did not share how many vehicles it will dispatch in Austin and Atlanta, but said the fleet will “grow to hundreds of vehicles over time.” Uber will handle fleet management services, such as cleaning and repairing the cars, while Waymo will continue to be responsible for Waymo Driver testing and operations, including roadside assistance and other passenger support functions.
The company said it would continue to own and operate Waymo One services in its existing markets, but Waymo’s long-term plan may involve extending those partnerships so it can focus on delivering the technology as a service, rather than investing resources in operations, which significantly increases overall costs.
Waymo did not respond to britcommerce in time to clarify its partnership strategy going forward.
The expansion comes as Waymo remains under federal investigation after regulators received reports on May 22 that its robotaxis were crashing or potentially violating traffic safety laws by driving in the wrong lane or in construction zones.