Photo: Toyota / Waymo promotional image (cropped)
Waymo plans to end its exclusive robotaxi partnership with Uber in Austin and Atlanta, steering riders to its own app as the rivalry between ride-hailing platforms and self-driving companies heats up, the New York Post reported.
Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana told Bloomberg News that ordering a Waymo through Uber had been a “crapshoot” for riders, who could not be sure they would get an autonomous vehicle. The exclusive arrangement, in which riders hail Waymo vehicles through Uber, will sunset in January 2028, once Waymo offers the service through its own app in both cities.
Alphabet-owned Waymo operates roughly 4,000 vehicles and provides more than 500,000 trips per week across 14 cities. It already serves riders through its own app in San Francisco and other markets, putting it in direct competition with Uber.
An Uber spokesperson told Bloomberg the company had asked Waymo to add a dedicated self-driving option for Austin and Atlanta customers, but Waymo declined. Waymo has yet to turn a profit in the capital-intensive robotaxi business, and Mawakana said price is “not the first priority.”
JBizNews Desk | New York
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