After as soon as being rivals, Uber and Waymo first partnered in late 2023. | Supply: Uber
Waymo robotaxis are actually accessible in Austin completely via Uber. Waymo stated riders who request an UberX, Uber Inexperienced, Consolation, or Consolation Electrical could possibly be matched with a Waymo totally autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE car.
Uber riders will be capable of go for a human-driven car if they like. Each companies will likely be priced the identical, the businesses stated.
Beforehand, Waymo provided rides in Austin solely to its workers. Waymo riders can presently journey throughout 37 sq. miles of Austin – from Hyde Park, to Downtown, to Montopolis – with plans to broaden sooner or later.
In contrast to Waymo’s deployments in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, Waymo robotaxis in Austin can be found completely via the Uber app. In line with Uber, the same deal is within the works for Atlanta subsequent.
As soon as the Waymo arrives, riders can unlock the car, open the trunk, and begin the journey – all from the Uber app. If help is required at any time, Waymo stated riders can have entry to 24/7 buyer assist, accessible in each the Uber app and contained in the Waymo car.
Uber, Waymo go from rivals to companions
Whereas Uber and Waymo have been working collectively since 2023, issues haven’t at all times been easy crusing between the 2 firms. Again when Uber was nonetheless growing its personal AVs beneath its Uber ATG unit, the businesses have been concerned in a lawsuit.
In 2016, Uber acquired autonomous trucking startup Otto for $680 million. The corporate later fired Otto co-founder Anthony Levandowski, who helped construct Google’s first self-driving automobile, in 2017 after Waymo sued Uber for stealing commerce secrets and techniques. The 2 firms settled the lawsuit in February 2018 for $250 million in fairness. Two years after buying Otto, the corporate in July 2018 shut down the mission in an try and salvage its self-driving automobile efforts.
In March 2018, an Uber self-driving automobile struck and killed a lady in Tempe, Arizona. This in the end led to Uber promoting its ATG unit to Aurora.
Waymo units its sights on Atlanta, Miami
Waymo’s subsequent deployment metropolis will likely be Atlanta. In January, the corporate introduced its giving totally autonomous rides to its workers within the metropolis. This is step one in the direction of a public deployment firm has deliberate for later this yr with the assistance of Uber.
Waymo is a transparent chief within the robotaxi business. At present, it gives over 200,000 journeys per week throughout Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin. The corporate can also be planning to start testing its robotaxi service in Miami in 2025.
Final yr, the self-driving unit of Google’s mum or dad Alphabet launched its first service in Los Angeles and expanded companies in San Francisco and Phoenix. It additionally launched its sixth-generation robotaxi.
And that isn’t all. Along with the deployments and new car, Waymo closed a $5.6 billion funding spherical. The spherical was led by Alphabet and included participation from different massive buyers akin to Andreessen Horowitz, Constancy, Perry Creek, Silver Lake, Tiger World, and T. Rowe Worth.
Whereas the corporate’s long-time rival, Cruise, is not in operation, Waymo nonetheless faces competitors from robotaxi firms like Zoox and Nuro, that are earlier of their deployment journeys. In 2024, Nuro expanded its capabilities utilizing zero-occupant autos with the Nuro Driver system, whereas Zoox grew its operations in California and Nevada. Throughout CES 2025, Mike Oitzman, senior editor at The Robotic Report, took a journey in a Zoox robotaxi.
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