In an exciting development for autonomous transportation, Uber and Waymo have announced an expansion of their driverless rideshare services to Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia. Starting early next year, Uber riders in these cities may be matched with a Waymo robotaxi when requesting specific ride options, including UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, and Uber Comfort Electric.
A Growing Partnership
The news comes as part of a growing multiyear strategic partnership between Uber and Waymo, which originally began in 2023. Currently, Uber riders in Phoenix have already been enjoying access to Waymo’s autonomous vehicles, and now Austin and Atlanta will join the list of cities where Uber’s self-driving rideshare services will be available.
The partnership has been a hit in Phoenix, with Waymo’s autonomous vehicles powering tens of thousands of fully driverless trips for Uber riders. Building on this success, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed his excitement in a statement, emphasizing that the collaboration with Waymo is a natural extension of Uber’s commitment to innovative transportation solutions.
“We’re thrilled to build on our successful partnership with Waymo, which has already powered fully autonomous trips for tens of thousands of riders in Phoenix,” Khosrowshahi said.
Expanding the Driverless Fleet
While Uber didn’t disclose the exact size of the Waymo fleet in Austin and Atlanta, it did mention that it would have access to Waymo’s all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles. Uber expects the fleet to grow to hundreds of vehicles over time as the service becomes more widely adopted.
Beyond ridesharing, the partnership extends to Uber Eats deliveries in certain areas, where Waymo vehicles are already used to transport some delivery orders. The inclusion of Austin and Atlanta will further expand the reach of this collaboration.
Division of Responsibilities
Under this partnership, Uber and Waymo will each focus on their strengths. Uber will be responsible for providing fleet management services, which include vehicle cleaning, repair, and general operations. On the other hand, Alphabet-owned Waymo will handle testing and operation of the autonomous technology, known as the Waymo Driver. Waymo will also oversee roadside assistance and specific rider support functions to ensure a smooth and safe experience.
Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana highlighted the importance of the company’s mission in a statement, emphasizing the value of trust in autonomous driving. “Waymo’s mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver,” said Mawakana, “and we’re excited to launch this expanded network and operations partnership with Uber in Austin and Atlanta to bring the benefits of fully autonomous driving to more riders.”
Autonomous Ride-Hailing on the Rise
This expansion comes as Uber solidifies its strategy of partnering with third-party companies for autonomous vehicle technology, rather than developing its own fleet. Waymo, which is a leader in the autonomous driving sector, already operates its own ride-hailing service called Waymo One in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. The partnership with Uber will likely help introduce even more riders to the benefits of self-driving technology and encourage broader public acceptance.
The autonomous ridesharing industry is rapidly growing, and partnerships like the one between Uber and Waymo could pave the way for the future of transportation. As more cities adopt these technologies, autonomous vehicles may become an increasingly common sight on the roads, bringing convenience and efficiency to urban mobility.
