A proposed autonomous vehicle bill in Washington, D.C., has become a test of Uber’s wider robotaxi strategy, putting the ride-hailing company at odds with its partner Waymo. The bill would allow fully driverless testing and commercial robotaxi operations in the district, where autonomous vehicles can currently be tested only with a human safety operator.
The Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026, introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen, would give the District Department of Transportation authority to issue permits for driverless testing and deployment. Supporters say the bill would create a clearer path for safe autonomous vehicle operations in the capital.
Uber opposes the bill in its current form. The company argues that allowing standalone robotaxi networks could displace human for-hire drivers and give Alphabet-owned Waymo too much control of the market.
Uber Pushes a Hybrid Network
Uber wants regulators to require robotaxis to operate through networks that also include human drivers. In practice, that would mean a rider using an app could be matched with either a human driver or an autonomous vehicle, depending on the trip.
Javi Correoso, Uber’s head of U.S. policy and federal affairs, told D.C. lawmakers in May that consumers should have access to both options. He said the hybrid model should be part of the regulatory framework, with users still able to request a ride driven by a human.
Uber says the approach would reduce disruption for drivers and help cities manage congestion, accessibility and labour concerns. The company has argued that robotaxis can idle or cruise without passengers, may not provide physical assistance to older or disabled riders and could displace multiple human drivers per vehicle.
Waymo disputes Uber’s interpretation of the bill. The company says it supports rules that allow safe autonomous vehicle deployment while preserving competition and does not support limiting autonomous vehicles to one kind of network.
D.C. Bill Includes Fees and Worker Support
The D.C. proposal includes several financial requirements for robotaxi operators. Companies would need at least $5 million in liability insurance, pay a $1 million application fee and pay a non-refundable $5 million permit fee if approved.
The bill also proposes a 15-cent-per-mile vehicle miles traveled tax on robotaxis. Half of the revenue would go toward public transit, while the rest would support education and workforce development for ride-hailing and taxi drivers who may be affected by automation.
Robotaxi advocates have criticised some of the fees as too high. Labour groups and driver advocates, meanwhile, have raised concerns about job losses, accessibility and safety.
The bill has drawn interest from Uber, Waymo, Tesla, Lyft, labour unions, disability rights groups, business organisations and transportation safety advocates. D.C. held its first major public hearing on the proposal this week, though final passage is not expected immediately.
Partners Become Policy Rivals
Uber and Waymo have worked together in several markets. Waymo robotaxis launched on Uber in Phoenix in 2023, though that limited partnership ended in May. The companies still work together in Austin and Atlanta, where riders access Waymo robotaxis through the Uber app.
Their relationship has become more strained as both companies prepare for wider robotaxi expansion. Uber has signed more than 30 autonomous vehicle partnerships globally and launched Uber Autonomous Solutions to support AV deployments.
At the same time, Uber is lobbying for a future in which robotaxis and human drivers share one transportation network. Critics say that could amount to regulatory capture by forcing autonomous vehicle developers onto platforms like Uber.
Waymo’s preferred future is different. It wants to operate robotaxis through its own app or other approved networks, without being required to include human drivers.
The fight in Washington is local, but its implications are national. If D.C. adopts Uber’s hybrid model, other cities could follow. If Waymo and other supporters win, robotaxi companies may have more freedom to launch standalone services without routing through ride-hailing platforms.
Featured image credits: Wikimedia Commons
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