Waymo to end Uber partnership in Austin and Atlanta

Published November 4, 2026. Waymo plans to stop offering its robotaxi rides through Uber in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028, when it will switch to booking rides through its own app in those markets. The company already uses its app in several other cities.

Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said riders had asked for a more consistent way to book a Waymo. Under the current arrangement, customers can indicate they prefer an autonomous ride, but may not know whether their Uber trip will be in a Waymo or a human-driven car.

Mawakana said the partnership helped Waymo reach more riders when the company lacked scale, and described the uncertainty of getting a Waymo as “a little bit of a crapshoot.” She also said working with Uber had been an important part of Waymo’s development.

Uber said it had asked Waymo about adding a direct option for customers in Austin and Atlanta to select an autonomous ride in Uber’s app. Waymo declined, Uber said. The agreement was due to expire in May 2028, but the companies’ arrangement will now end earlier.

The shift comes as self-driving companies increasingly offer rides through their own apps, potentially competing directly with ride-hailing platforms. Waymo operates about 4,000 vehicles and provides more than 500,000 trips a week across 14 cities. It aims to expand its fleet to 8,000 vehicles by the end of 2026.