Waymo confirms it’s shaking up its Uber relationship in January 2028
The change will set up direct competition in those markets, as Uber has many other autonomous vehicle partners on its network.
Waymo, the robotaxi company, announced on Wednesday that it will end its exclusivity deal with Uber in the Austin and Atlanta markets starting in January 2028, according to co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana's comments to Bloomberg News. This means that Waymo will offer rides directly through its own smartphone app, similar to its operations in other cities.
Uber has stated that they still intend to include Waymo robotaxis on their app as long as both companies maintain their agreement. The report is based on earlier coverage by the Financial Times suggesting that Waymo was considering ending its deal with Uber, which was scheduled to conclude in May 2028. Mawakana explained that Waymo initially collaborated with Uber to leverage the ride-hailing giant's extensive reach, but riders in those markets have experienced inconsistent service, often unsure whether they were taking a robotaxi or a human-driven vehicle.
She emphasized the importance of a direct rider experience with Waymo, which led to feedback from users about the need for a more consistent service. Uber, which has numerous robotaxi and autonomous vehicle partnerships, revealed to Bloomberg that it suggested Waymo not include a direct booking option in its app. Further updates have refined this account to reflect Mawakana's perspective on the exclusivity issue.
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