Waymo intends to offer rides through its own app in Austin and Atlanta starting in January 2028, co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said in an interview Bloomberg reported on November 4, 2026. Bloomberg reported that Uber was the only app through which riders could request Waymo vehicles in those cities at the time. Waymo’s service page describes rides in Austin and Atlanta through Uber.
Why Waymo plans a direct app
Mawakana said riders wanted a more consistent way to request Waymo vehicles. Choosing an autonomous ride in Uber did not guarantee a Waymo match; one of Waymo’s vehicles had to be nearby. The planned app would give riders another way to request the service directly.
What the dates say about Uber access
A July 24 report by La República, carrying Bloomberg reporting, said Uber had told Waymo that the current Waymo fleet would remain on Uber’s platform at least through May 2028. That is later than Waymo’s intended January app start, so the reported dates allow for a period when riders could access Waymo through both apps.
Uber’s request to Waymo
An Uber spokesperson said the company had asked Waymo to make robotaxi rides easier to select in Austin and Atlanta. Waymo declined to comment on those discussions, Bloomberg reported.
