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Waymo plans to end its Uber partnership for driverless rides in Austin and Atlanta starting in January 2028, shifting those services to Waymo’s own app. Waymo says the Uber app cannot consistently match riders with a driverless car; Uber says it offered a dedicated robotaxi option, which Waymo declined. The companies have not described all operational details of the change.
Waymo plans to end its robotaxi partnership with Uber in Austin and Atlanta starting in January 2028, when it expects riders in both cities to book driverless trips through Waymo’s own app. The change would remove Uber as the booking channel for Waymo vehicles in those markets and make the two companies direct competitors there.
Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana told Bloomberg that the company will leave the Uber arrangement in Austin and Atlanta beginning in January 2028. Under the current setup, riders can request an autonomous ride through settings in Uber’s app, but they may be matched with a human-driven vehicle if a Waymo is not available nearby. Waymo says that uncertainty has made it harder to deliver a consistent driverless-ride experience.
Uber said it offered to add a dedicated robotaxi option to its app so customers could be matched more directly with autonomous vehicles. According to the report, Waymo declined the proposal and intends to handle bookings itself. The announced plan concerns the two named cities; the source does not say that Waymo is ending all cooperation with Uber nationwide.
Waymo currently provides paid driverless rides in Austin and Atlanta through the partnership. Once the change takes effect, its vehicles are expected to operate in those cities through the company’s own service, as they do in other markets. The plan gives Waymo greater control over how customers request its rides, while Uber would lose access to Waymo’s vehicles in those two markets.
A Direct Contest for Austin Riders
The change matters because it alters how riders access driverless vehicles in two growing U.S. markets. For customers, the stated aim is a more predictable booking experience: they would request a Waymo directly rather than use an Uber setting that may still result in a human-driven trip. Whether that makes booking easier will depend on vehicle availability and how Waymo’s app handles demand.
It also marks a shift in the companies’ relationship from partnership to competition in Austin and Atlanta. Uber brings a large ride-hailing customer base and fleet-management experience; Waymo controls the vehicles and its own booking service. The decision may show that Waymo believes it can reach riders without relying on Uber in these cities, but the source does not establish how the move will affect prices, trip volumes, or market share.
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How the Two Apps Work Today
The partnership was intended to help Waymo reach riders through Uber’s established platform and to support expansion before Waymo had broader operating scale. Mawakana described the early partnership as useful when Waymo lacked scale, but said the arrangement did not reliably deliver a driverless ride to customers. Her “crapshoot” description referred to that uncertainty, not to a claim about the safety of the vehicles.
Waymo also works with Lyft in Nashville, where the report says the arrangement is not exclusive; Waymo serves riders there through its own app as well. The InsideEVs report says Waymo operates in 15 U.S. cities and conducts more than 500,000 paid driverless trips per week. It also reports Uber has plans to build a larger robotaxi offering and has agreements with several autonomous-vehicle companies. Those figures and plans describe the broader competitive backdrop, rather than a confirmed outcome of the Austin and Atlanta split.
Open Questions About the Handoff
The planned end date is clear, but the practical transition details have not been reported. The source does not explain whether riders with existing accounts will need to take any steps, whether Waymo will change its service area or fleet size in either city, or how the company will handle demand during the shift. It also provides no projected fares, wait times, or service-capacity figures for the standalone service.
Uber’s proposed dedicated robotaxi option was reportedly declined, but the report does not detail the companies’ discussions or whether they could reach a different agreement before January 2028. The announcement covers Austin and Atlanta; it does not establish a broader termination of business ties between the companies.
Waymo’s January 2028 Plan
Waymo’s stated next milestone is to begin serving Austin and Atlanta riders through its own app in January 2028. Until then, the companies’ existing arrangement is expected to remain the booking route described in the report. Waymo and Uber may provide more detail on customer migration, fleet operations, and availability as the date approaches; none of those specifics is confirmed in the source material.
Key Questions
When will Waymo stop offering rides through Uber in Austin and Atlanta?
Waymo plans to leave the partnership in both cities starting in January 2028.
How will riders book Waymo trips after the change?
Waymo says it plans to serve riders in Austin and Atlanta through its own app, rather than through Uber.
Why is Waymo ending the arrangement?
Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said the Uber app does not guarantee a driverless ride. A booking may instead match a rider with a human driver when a Waymo is not nearby.
Did Uber offer another way to book robotaxis?
According to the report, Uber offered to add a dedicated robotaxi option to its app. Waymo reportedly declined that proposal.
Does this end Waymo’s partnership with Uber everywhere?
No such broader change is confirmed. The reported plan covers Austin and Atlanta; the source does not say the companies are ending all cooperation in other places.
Source: insideevs.com
