Waymo to Exit Uber Partnership in Austin and Atlanta
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The autonomous vehicle company will shift to a direct-to-consumer model in January 2028, prioritizing rider relationships over third-party scale.
Waymo will officially end its partnership with Uber in the Atlanta and Austin markets starting in January 2028, according to reporting from TechCrunch. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana confirmed the move in a Bloomberg News report, stating that Waymo will instead provide rides via its own proprietary smartphone application.
While Waymo originally collaborated with Uber to leverage the ride-hail company's scale, Mawakana told Bloomberg that the rider experience has been inconsistent. Specifically, she noted that customers often do not know if they are hailing a human-driven vehicle or a robotaxi. Mawakana emphasized that establishing a direct relationship with riders is a priority based on feedback from those specific markets.
TechCrunch notes that the move confirms earlier Financial Times reporting that Waymo sought to exit the agreement, which was scheduled to expire in May 2028. For its part, Uber told Bloomberg that Waymo was the party responsible for the decision not to include a direct robotaxi booking option within the Uber app.