Uber and Waymo have collaborated for three years to provide driverless rides exclusively through the Uber app in Atlanta and Austin. However, Waymo plans to launch its own app in these cities by January 2028, which indicates its growing ability to attract riders independently, as it has already expanded its robotaxi services to nine other markets.
Despite the existing contract allowing Waymo's robotaxis to remain on Uber's platform until May 2028, this change enables Uber to incorporate other autonomous vehicles into its service. Tensions between the two companies have been reported, leading to internal discussions at Waymo about potentially separating from Uber. Following the announcement, Uber's shares fell over 4%.
Meanwhile, Uber continues to invest in autonomous vehicle technology independently, partnering with various startups and electric vehicle manufacturers. This development highlights the competitive landscape of the autonomous vehicle market, where companies like Tesla and Amazon's Zoox are also pursuing standalone apps for their robotaxi services