Uber has announced an expansion of its partnership with Waymo to offer Waymo's autonomous ride-hailing services in Austin and Atlanta through the Uber app. The service is set to launch in early 2025.
According to a press release by Uber, the company will manage a fleet of Waymo’s all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in these cities, which will grow to hundreds over time. Riders using UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with a Waymo vehicle. While Uber handles fleet management, Waymo will manage the operation of the Waymo Driver.
"We’re thrilled to build on our successful partnership with Waymo, which has already powered fully autonomous trips for tens of thousands of riders in Phoenix," said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. "Soon, riders in Austin and Atlanta will be able to experience that same mobility magic, through a new fleet of dedicated autonomous Waymo vehicles, available only on Uber."
Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company focused on becoming the world’s most trusted driver. Originally part of the Google Self-Driving Car Project, Waymo offers a fully autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, which completes over 100,000 trips weekly.
"Waymo’s mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver, and we’re excited to launch this expanded network and operations partnership with Uber in Austin and Atlanta to bring the benefits of fully autonomous driving to more riders," said Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo.
Uber is a technology company established in 2008 that operates a global platform connecting users with transportation and delivery services through a mobile app. The company utilizes safety measures such as thorough background checks for drivers. According to its About webpage, Uber aims to provide convenient mobility solutions while partnering with communities worldwide to enhance local transportation options.