Waymo to End Exclusive Uber Partnership in Austin and Atlanta

Waymo will terminate its exclusive robotaxi partnership with Uber Technologies Inc. in Austin and Atlanta starting in January 2028. The company plans to transition these markets to its own dedicated app, aligning them with operations in over two dozen other U.S. cities where it already operates independently.

Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana stated the decision follows customer feedback regarding the need for a more consistent experience. Mawakana described the current Uber integration as a "crapshoot" because riders are not guaranteed a driverless vehicle and may be matched with human drivers. Although Uber offered to implement a dedicated robotaxi booking option to address these concerns, Waymo declined the proposal.

This shift transforms Uber from a partner into a direct competitor in these specific markets, though Uber intends to continue hosting Waymo vehicles on its platform if both parties agree. Waymo currently completes more than 500,000 paid driverless trips weekly across 14 to 15 U.S. cities and maintains a separate, non-exclusive partnership with Lyft Inc. in Nashville.