Uber users in Austin and Atlanta will be able to hail Waymo robotaxis through the app in early 2025 as part of an expanded partnership between the two companies.
Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have been available on the Uber app in Phoenix since October 2023. Uber has been snatching up self-driving partnerships across its ride-hail and delivery verticals, and it last month said it was partnering with GM’s Cruise and the U.K.’s Wayve as well.
Waymo runs its own autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles, and provides around 100,000 trips per week, according to the company. The Alphabet-owned AV company began testing robotaxis in Atlanta and shuttling its own employees around Austin earlier this year — usually the first steps Waymo takes before it begins offering its ride-hailing service in new markets.
Still, Waymo said only Uber users would be able to hail its fleet of Jaguar I-PACE AVs in Austin and Atlanta.
Waymo said a limited number of users will be able to access rides in Austin and Atlanta via the Waymo One app in the coming weeks.
Waymo did not mention how many vehicles it would dispatch in the two cities, but said its fleet would “grow to hundreds of vehicles over time.” Uber will handle fleet management, like cleaning and repairing the cars, and Waymo will oversee testing and operation of Waymo Driver, as well as offering roadside assistance and other rider support functions.
The company said it would continue to operate Waymo One in its existing markets, but it is possible its long-term plan may involve extending such partnerships so it can focus on offering the technology as a service instead of putting resources into operations, which adds significantly to overhead costs.
Waymo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The expansion comes even as Waymo grapples with a federal investigation. Regulators in May received 22 reports of its robotaxis crashing or potentially violating traffic safety laws by driving in the wrong lane or into construction zones.
