Waymo to end partnership with Uber in Austin and Atlanta

Waymo will officially split with Uber in the Austin and Atlanta markets starting in January 2028. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana confirmed the move in a report published Wednesday. The robotaxi company will instead offer rides directly through its own smartphone app, just like it does in other cities. Mawakana stated that Waymo initially partnered with Uber because the ride-hail giant offered scale. However, the experience for riders has been unpredictable because users never know if they are going to hail a robotaxi or a human-driven car. Mawakana noted that direct connection with the customer is important based on feedback from riders in those markets. Uber told Bloomberg that it was Waymo's idea not to add an option in the ride-hail app to book a robotaxi directly.

Context

Autonomous vehicle companies often test the waters by partnering with established ride-hail platforms to reach more users quickly. As these tech firms grow their own brand recognition and build dedicated user bases, they frequently shift toward operating through standalone apps to control the full customer experience.