Waymo currently operates around 4,000 vehicles and completes more than 500,000 trips weekly across 14 cities|Grendelkhan|CC BY-SA 4.0
Waymo is preparing to take greater control of its robotaxi business by ending its exclusive booking arrangement with Uber in Austin and Atlanta, Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana told Bloomberg.
Starting January 2028, passengers in both cities can request driverless rides directly through Waymo’s app.
The decision comes as the company looks to build stronger relationships with customers.
She said the change follows feedback from riders who said that selecting a preference for a driverless car in the app does not guarantee they’ll be matched with one.
The shift signals growing competition as robotaxis gain ground in the transportation market. Waymo currently operates around 4,000 vehicles and completes more than 500,000 trips weekly across 14 cities.
However, expansion brings challenges. High operating expenses, safety concerns, and technical limitations continue to test the company's business model. Waymo is also exploring licensing its technology to automakers.