Waymo and Uber have launched their autonomous vehicle partnership in Austin, Texas, marking a significant step in the transition to driverless transportation. Starting today, Austin residents can hail a fully autonomous Waymo vehicle exclusively through the Uber app. However, the service is limited to a 37-square-mile area, including neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Downtown, and Montopolis, and does not operate on highways.
Waymo’s fleet in Austin is initially small, though the company plans to expand to hundreds of vehicles over time. Customers eager to experience a driverless ride can increase their chances by opting in to autonomous rides under the “Ride Preferences” section in the Uber app settings.
Waymo began offering rides to select testers in Austin in October 2024, following an announcement in August 2023. The launch in Austin represents a 550-day journey from identifying the city as a future market to operational deployment. At launch, Waymo’s vehicles are available only via Uber’s app, with Waymo One users redirected to Uber. Functions such as unlocking the vehicle and starting the trip are now managed through the Uber app, which also provides 24/7 customer support.
Uber will handle fleet services, including cleaning, maintenance, and EV charging, through a partnership with Avmo. Waymo remains responsible for vehicle testing and roadside assistance. Both companies will share costs and revenues, though details of the split remain undisclosed.
This collaboration marks a new era of cooperation between Uber and Waymo, former rivals who settled a legal dispute in 2018. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed excitement about combining Waymo’s technology with Uber’s platform to advance electric and autonomous transportation.
— news from The Verge