Starting today, Uber will begin offering driverless Waymo rides in Austin as part of a strategic multi-year partnership between the two companies.
Uber riders who request UberX, Uber Green, Comfort, or Comfort Electric may be matched with Waymo’s fully autonomous electric Jaguar I-PACE at no additional cost. Before the vehicle is dispatched, riders will have the option to accept the ride or switch to a non-AV ride. Once the Waymo vehicle arrives, riders can control key functions—unlock the doors, open the trunk, and start the trip—all with a tap in the Uber app. Those who want a higher chance of being matched with a Waymo vehicle can update their ride preferences accordingly.
Uber first introduced Waymo rides in Phoenix in 2023, with Atlanta next on the expansion list starting this summer. In both Austin and Atlanta, Uber will oversee the management of Waymo’s fleet services.
Competition in the autonomous ride-hailing space is heating up. Last week, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced that Waymo hit a major milestone, securing an average of 200,000 paid trips per week across LA, Phoenix, and San Francisco—representing a twenty-fold surge in growth in less than two years.
Meanwhile, other players are making moves. General Motors’ robotaxi subsidiary, Cruise, shuttered its operations in December, shifting its focus to developing driver-assistance systems instead. Tesla is also preparing to enter the market, with plans to launch a robotaxi service in Austin by mid-2025.
Last October, Waymo secured $5.6 billion in funding from investors, pushing its valuation to over $45 billion. While its financial backing is strong, its partnership with ride-hailing leader Uber cements its position as a dominant force in the growing robotaxi sector.
