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Uber and Waymo Launch Driverless Rides in Austin

Residents can now book rides in Waymo's autonomous electric SUVs through the Uber app, with plans for future expansion.

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A Waymo autonomous self-driving Jaguar electric vehicle sits parked at an EVgo charging station in Los Angeles, California, on May 15, 2024. The top US auto safety regulator on Tuesday said it had opened an investigation into Google-owned Waymo after reports of 22 incidents with its self-driving technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation said the problems took place in vehicles equipped with Waymo's fifth generation automated driving system. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
FILE - Two Waymo driverless taxis stop before passing one another on a San Francisco street on Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Terry Chea, File)

Overview

  • Uber and Waymo have partnered to offer self-driving rides in Austin, marking the first city where Uber manages Waymo's fleet directly.
  • Riders can book Waymo's autonomous Jaguar I-PACE electric SUVs through Uber's app at no additional cost, within a 37-square-mile area of the city.
  • The service launches ahead of Austin's South by Southwest festival, an event that draws approximately 300,000 visitors annually.
  • Waymo's autonomous vehicles have logged tens of millions of miles and are designed to meet Uber's safety guidelines with 24/7 customer assistance available.
  • The partnership will expand to Atlanta later this year, with Waymo also planning to introduce its own service in Miami in 2026.