Waymo and Uber have announced an expanded partnership that will bring Waymo One’s fully autonomous riding experience to Austin and Atlanta. This collaboration, slated to begin in early 2025, marks a significant milestone in the integration of self-driving technology with mainstream ride-hailing services.
The partnership will see Uber managing and dispatching a fleet of Waymo’s all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in Austin and Atlanta. This fleet, which is expected to grow to hundreds of vehicles over time, will be exclusively available through the Uber app, offering users in these cities a unique opportunity to experience cutting-edge autonomous transportation.
Under this arrangement, Uber will take charge of fleet management services, including vehicle maintenance, cleaning, and general depot operations. Waymo, on the other hand, will continue to oversee the testing and operation of its Waymo Driver technology, ensuring the safety and reliability of the autonomous driving experience.
Waymo has already initiated autonomous rides for employees in Austin, with plans to gradually expand access to early riders through the Waymo One app. The transition to full availability on the Uber app is scheduled for next year. In Atlanta, the public launch is set for early 2025, with a progressive expansion throughout the year.
This expansion builds on the success of Waymo One’s operations in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, where it currently provides over 100k trips each week, (Waymo and Uber Form a Strategic Partnership to Expand Autonomous Driving Services). The partnership with Uber aims to extend this “mobility magic” to new markets, leveraging Uber’s extensive user base and Waymo’s advanced autonomous driving technology.
The collaboration between Waymo and Uber represents a significant step forward in the mainstream adoption of autonomous vehicles. By combining Waymo’s technological expertise with Uber’s market presence and operational capabilities, this partnership has the potential to accelerate the integration of self-driving cars into everyday urban transportation.
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