Waymo will end its exclusive robotaxi booking arrangement with Uber in Austin and Atlanta starting in January 2028, allowing passengers to request driverless rides directly through the Waymo app. The change was confirmed by Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana in a November 4, 2026, interview with Bloomberg, although the two companies may continue offering rides through Uber’s platform.
According to Bloomberg, the decision reflects Waymo’s efforts to establish direct relationships with passengers in both cities. The company already operates its own ride-hailing application in other markets, allowing customers to specifically request autonomous vehicles.
Waymo Plans Direct Robotaxi Bookings
Under the existing partnership, passengers in Austin and Atlanta can access Waymo robotaxis through Uber rather than booking directly with Waymo. However, the arrangement does not guarantee that a passenger requesting a ride through Uber will receive an autonomous vehicle instead of a human-driven car.
Mawakana said the uncertainty had created an inconsistent experience for some customers. She described the booking process as “a little bit of a crapshoot,” explaining that riders could not reliably choose the type of vehicle they preferred.
Waymo initially partnered with Uber to benefit from its established customer base and ride-hailing infrastructure. However, Mawakana said feedback from passengers demonstrated the importance of maintaining a direct relationship with customers.
The announcement follows reports earlier in 2026 that Waymo was considering ending its exclusivity agreement with Uber. According to the Financial Times, the companies’ existing arrangement was scheduled to expire in May 2028.
Uber Expects Partnership to Continue
Uber confirmed that it intends to continue offering Waymo robotaxis through its application for as long as both companies maintain their commercial relationship. Ending exclusivity would therefore allow passengers to book Waymo vehicles through either company’s app rather than removing the service from Uber.
Uber also disputed suggestions that it was responsible for the uncertainty surrounding robotaxi availability. The company told Bloomberg that Waymo had originally decided against introducing a dedicated option for passengers to request autonomous vehicles through Uber’s platform.
The two companies have not disclosed whether the change will affect their existing operational responsibilities or commercial terms. Waymo also did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.
Waymo Expands Direct Customer Access
Waymo’s decision would bring Austin and Atlanta closer to the booking model used in other cities where it operates autonomous ride-hailing services. Direct bookings allow passengers to specifically select driverless vehicles rather than receiving them as one possible option within a conventional ride-hailing service.
The planned change also comes as Uber continues building partnerships with autonomous vehicle developers. The company has agreements with multiple robotaxi and autonomous mobility providers, allowing it to offer driverless transportation services without developing its own autonomous driving system.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
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