Waymo plans to end Uber’s exclusivity for robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia, starting in January 2028, and to offer bookings through its own app. On November 4, TechCrunch reported that Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana had described the plan.
Uber’s role after the change
Uber told TechCrunch it plans to keep offering Waymo rides in its app for as long as both companies agree. The arrangement was reported as originally due to expire in May 2028; continued Uber bookings depend on an agreement between the companies.
Why Waymo wants direct bookings
Mawakana said Uber initially offered Waymo scale, but riders could be unsure whether an Uber booking would send a robotaxi or a human-driven car. She also cited feedback from riders in Austin and Atlanta as a reason Waymo wants a direct relationship with them.
What riders said about booking
One Austin Reddit commenter said they could not request only a Waymo through Uber and had never ordered one. A Reddit user describing a visit to Atlanta said three of their 12 Uber trips were in Waymo vehicles. These are individual accounts, not representative measures of how often Uber matches riders with Waymos.
