Waymo and Uber (UBER.US) exclusive Robotaxi partnership in two cities will end in 2028

According to Jinse Finance, Alphabet's (GOOGL.US) autonomous driving company Waymo plans to end its exclusive Robotaxi partnership with Uber (UBER.US) in Austin and Atlanta, USA, in January 2028. At that time, customers will be able to book autonomous rides through Waymo's app. Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana disclosed this decision in an interview.

Mawakana stated that this decision was based on customer feedback. Customers want a more consistent experience when booking autonomous rides.

Currently, customers in Austin and Atlanta can only book Waymo vehicles through the Uber platform, but a successful match is not guaranteed because availability depends on whether there is a vehicle nearby. “In the early days, we partnered because we didn’t have scale; in this kind of collaboration, the experience was a bit like a gamble,” Mawakana said.

An Uber spokesperson stated that the company had requested Waymo to introduce a dedicated Robotaxi option for Austin and Atlanta customers in its app, but Waymo declined this request.

Currently, Waymo operates about 4,000 vehicles in the US, providing over 500,000 trips per week in 14 cities. As the business expands, the company is also investing heavily in fleet expansion and technology development, while facing challenges related to profitability, ride costs, and safety.