Waymo to end Uber exclusivity in Austin and Atlanta from January 2028
Riders in the two cities will be able to book Waymo robotaxis directly through Waymo's own app, as they already can elsewhere.
Waymo plans to drop its exclusive arrangement with Uber in Austin and Atlanta beginning January 2028, according to co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, who spoke to Bloomberg. Riders in those cities will then be able to book Waymo robotaxis through Waymo's own app, as they can in its other markets. Uber said it still intends to keep Waymo vehicles on its platform for as long as the two companies agree to it. Earlier Financial Times reporting had said Waymo wanted out of a deal that was set to run until May 2028. Mawakana said the riding experience had been inconsistent, since passengers could not tell in advance whether a robotaxi or a human-driven car would arrive, and Uber said the decision not to offer direct robotaxi booking in its app had come from Waymo.
Why it matters
For riders in Austin and Atlanta, the change means a single Waymo app can be used to book a robotaxi, rather than relying on Uber to offer one. Uber's app is expected to keep Waymo vehicles for as long as the two companies agree, so the arrangement is loosened rather than ended outright. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana has framed the move around the rider experience, which she described as inconsistent because passengers could not know whether a robotaxi or a human-driven car would arrive. Uber has said the decision not to offer direct robotaxi booking in its app came from Waymo, which places the choice of how riders reach Waymo vehicles with Waymo.
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