Waymo confirms it will start splitting with Uber in January 2028
The split will set up direct competition in those markets, as Uber has many other autonomous vehicle partners on its network.
Waymo, the robotaxi company, announced it will end its exclusivity agreement with Uber in the Austin and Atlanta markets starting in January 2028, according to a report by Bloomberg News. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana revealed this information to Bloomberg News. The robotaxi company plans to offer its services directly through its own smartphone app, similar to its operations in other cities.
Uber confirmed to TechCrunch that it will continue to host Waymo robotaxis on its app as long as both companies agree to the arrangement. The decision to part ways was reportedly made by Waymo, who initially partnered with Uber for its scale. However, Waymo's riders have expressed dissatisfaction with the unpredictability of whether they are getting a robotaxi or a human-driven car.
Mawakana emphasized the importance of having a reliable relationship with riders and that feedback from riders in these markets influenced their decision. Uber, known for having several robotaxi and autonomous vehicle partners, stated that it was Waymo who suggested not adding an option to book a robotaxi directly through their app.
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