Uber is set to launch a new phase in Austin, Texas, starting Tuesday, as it introduces self-driving cars for passenger rides. This service is a result of a partnership between Uber and Waymo, a leader in autonomous vehicles, which has been offering self-driving rides in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles through its own app.
Waymo is now looking to expand into additional cities by collaborating with Uber, a partnership that was announced in September. The new service will begin in Austin and, later this year, will expand to Atlanta, where passengers can also enjoy rides in Waymo’s robotaxis.
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles will hit the streets of Austin ahead of Elon Musk’s goal of launching a fleet of electric autonomous cars later in 2025. Although Uber’s human-driven cars will still operate in Austin, the addition of Waymo’s robotaxis offers a unique selling point for passengers eager to experience the latest in transportation technology.
Uber excitedly announced that with Waymo’s advanced technology and Uber’s reliable platform, they are ready to deliver the ride of the future, starting today, as robotaxis make their debut in Austin.
Passengers in Austin can’t guarantee a ride in one of Waymo’s robotaxis when they order through Uber’s app, but they can increase their chances by enabling the autonomous vehicle preference in their settings. When a Waymo car is dispatched, the Uber app will notify passengers that the ride will be provided by a self-driving vehicle, and they will have the option to switch to a human-driven car if they prefer.
Waymo, which originally began as a secret project within Google, has made significant progress since its robotaxis first began charging for rides in Phoenix nearly five years ago. The company’s robotaxis now handle around 200,000 paid rides per week, a significant increase from approximately 10,000 weekly rides two years ago.
After launching in Austin and Atlanta this year through its partnership with Uber, Waymo plans to expand further by offering rides in Miami next year via its own app. This expansion will follow the same model as its services in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
So far, Waymo has managed to avoid any major accidents or safety incidents that could cause regulators to reconsider allowing its robotaxis on the road.
In contrast, General Motors’ attempt to compete with Waymo in San Francisco through its Cruise subsidiary was less successful. Cruise’s self-driving car service faced a setback when its vehicle dragged an injured pedestrian for about 20 feet before stopping, leading to its California license being suspended in October 2023.
Additionally, Uber had struck a deal last year to eventually deploy Cruise’s robotaxis in various cities, but this plan was scrapped after General Motors halted its fleet of self-driving cars.