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2mo ago

Uber and Waymo Launch Driverless Rides in Austin, Expanding Robotaxi Services

The partnership brings Waymo's autonomous vehicles to Uber's platform in Austin, with plans for future expansion to Atlanta and beyond.

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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

  • Waymo's fully autonomous electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles are now available via the Uber app in a 37-square-mile area of Austin, Texas.
  • Riders can opt into the autonomous vehicle preference in the Uber app to increase their chances of being matched with a Waymo robotaxi.
  • The partnership marks the first time Uber is managing fleet operations for Waymo, including maintenance, charging, and depot management.
  • This collaboration follows previous launches in Phoenix and precedes planned expansions to Atlanta later this year and Miami in 2026.
  • The launch positions Waymo and Uber as competitors to Tesla, which has announced plans for a driverless rideshare service in Austin by June.