Waymo and Uber Launch Robotaxi Service in Austin
Austin, Wednesday, 5 February 2025.
Waymo and Uber collaborate to introduce a robotaxi service in Austin, aiming to transform urban mobility and set a national precedent for autonomous transport solutions. Initial services will cover key areas in the city.
Partnership Details
Alphabet’s Waymo (NASDAQ: GOOGL) and Uber (NYSE: UBER) announced their strategic partnership on February 4, 2025 [1][2]. The collaboration will bring autonomous ride-hailing services to Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, with Austin being the first city to implement the integration [1]. The service will initially cover 37 square miles of Austin, including downtown, Hyde Park, and Montopolis areas [1]. Uber’s stock responded positively to the announcement, with shares rising 5%, while Alphabet saw an approximate 1% increase [2].
Service Implementation
The ‘Waymo on Uber’ service represents Uber’s strategic re-entry into the autonomous vehicle market [1]. Riders matched with Waymo vehicles will pay rates equivalent to UberX or Uber Comfort services [1][2]. Waymo’s current operational metrics are impressive, with the company providing 100,000 weekly paid rides as of early 2025, double their May 2024 figures of 50,000 [2]. Uber will manage the operational aspects, including charging, maintenance, cleaning, and app-based access to the robotaxi fleet [1].
Growth Strategy
Starting with a modest fleet size, Waymo plans to expand to hundreds of vehicles across Austin and Atlanta in the coming years [1]. This expansion builds on Waymo’s existing success in other markets, where they’ve demonstrated strong safety credentials with over 22 million miles of testing as of June 2024 [2]. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed enthusiasm about building on their successful Phoenix partnership [2], while Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana emphasized their commitment to bringing safe and convenient autonomous driving solutions to these new markets [2].
Customer Access
Austin residents can now signal their interest in the robotaxi service through a newly launched feature in the Uber app [1]. This ‘interest list’ feature, introduced on February 4, 2025, allows customers to receive updates and increase their chances of being matched with a Waymo vehicle [1]. The launch represents a significant milestone for Uber, which has pivoted from developing its own autonomous technology to forming strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Waymo, GM’s Cruise, and Wayve [2].