Uber clients in Austin could discover a brand new supply after they open the app and hail a experience: an invite to sign their curiosity in a Waymo robotaxi.
For now, this doesn’t translate right into a Waymo selecting them up. However it can quickly.
The “curiosity checklist,” which launched Wednesday, is a part of a partnership between Uber and Waymo to function a robotaxi service in Austin and Atlanta in early 2025. The service is predicted to start quickly in Austin, though neither firm would share an official begin date. A brand new co-branded robotaxi was additionally revealed Wednesday.
The “Waymo on Uber” robotaxi service is the newest instance of Uber’s push again into autonomous automobiles. Uber divested of its personal autonomous car subsidiary, often known as Uber ATG, by a advanced deal with Aurora in December 2020. Previous to that, sarcastically, Uber and Waymo had been arch rivals, going head-to-head in lawsuits alleging Uber stole commerce secrets and techniques belonging to Waymo (which on the time was a part of Google/Alphabet, which at present stays a majority-shareholder) — Uber finally settled the fits.
Uber has spent the previous couple of years shoring up its place within the rising robotaxi market. The corporate has partnered with 14 autonomous car corporations that cowl ride-hailing, supply, and trucking — a handful of that are working commercially. In December, Uber launched robotaxi rides with WeRide in Abu Dhabi and Waymo’s autonomous automobiles have been obtainable on the Uber app in Phoenix since October 2023.
However in Austin and Atlanta, the association with Waymo can be extra unique.
Beneath the partnership, solely Uber customers will be capable to hail Waymo’s fleet of autonomous Jaguar I-PACE automobiles. (In Phoenix, Waymo operates the fleet.) Uber will deal with the charging, upkeep, and cleansing of the autonomous automobiles in addition to managing entry to the robotaxis through the app. Waymo will nonetheless monitor the tech and the autonomous operations, together with rider help.
The Waymo robotaxis can be obtainable to clients inside 37 sq. miles of Austin, together with downtown, Hyde Park and Montopolis. The businesses mentioned they plan to increase that territory. The Waymo robotaxi fleet can be smaller to start out — though Uber wouldn’t disclose a determine — and finally develop to a whole bunch of automobiles throughout each Austin and Atlanta over the following few years.
Uber mentioned riders who’re matched with a Waymo can pay the identical fee as human-driven choices equivalent to UberX or Uber Consolation.
Prospects who join the “curiosity checklist” will obtain updates from Uber and enhance their possibilities of being matched with a Waymo autonomous car at launch, in accordance with the businesses. To hitch, Uber clients in Austin have to replace the app, then go to settings. From right here, clients can click on on experience preferences, the place they need to see a listing that features autonomous automobiles.
