Uber Technologies is set to expand its partnership with Alphabet’s Waymo, introducing self-driving, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles to Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, starting early next year. This move follows a successful collaboration in Phoenix, Arizona, where Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have been available since 2023.
Additionally, Uber will oversee and deploy a growing fleet of Waymo’s fully autonomous cars, expected to increase to hundreds over time. This initiative aligns with Uber’s broader strategy to integrate new technologies and transition its entire fleet to green energy.
Uber first teamed up with Waymo in 2023 to offer driverless cars in Phoenix. The new service in Austin and Atlanta will allow riders to request Waymo vehicles through Uber’s platform for certain trips. However, the specific criteria for these “qualifying trips” were not disclosed. Riders can also choose to opt out of receiving a Waymo vehicle.
The announcement comes at a crucial time for autonomous vehicle companies, which are facing increased scrutiny from safety regulators due to recent incidents involving self-driving technology. Uber’s partnership with Waymo is part of a broader strategy to leverage advancements in electric and autonomous driving technologies. Uber has also announced a similar collaboration with General Motors’ Cruise to provide self-driving cars on its platform by next year.
Waymo started as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009 and is a leading player in the autonomous vehicle sector. The company currently operates Waymo One, an autonomous ride-hailing service in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana expressed excitement about the expansion, highlighting the positive feedback from existing riders and the opportunity to bring the benefits of autonomous driving to new cities.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi also expressed enthusiasm about the expanded partnership, emphasizing the potential for riders in Austin and Atlanta to experience the advantages of autonomous transportation through Uber’s platform.
