Uber and Waymo have expanded their "Waymo on Uber" robotaxi service to Atlanta, covering an initial area of approximately 65 square miles. This expansion follows a successful launch in Austin and aims to boost both companies' business growth. Uber, which collaborates with 18 autonomous driving companies, reports 1.5 million autonomous trips and deliveries annually on its platform. Waymo, on the other hand, provides 250,000 paid robotaxi rides weekly in cities like Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The addition of Atlanta is expected to increase these figures.
In Atlanta, Waymo's fleet consists of dozens of vehicles, with plans to expand to hundreds shared with Austin. The "Waymo on Uber" service operates in a hybrid mode, combining robotaxis with human-driven vehicles. Uber users can set preferences in the app to increase their chances of matching with a Waymo robotaxi. Unlike other markets where Waymo operates, Uber users in Atlanta can choose between accepting a robotaxi or switching to a human-driven vehicle upon notification.
Robotaxi fares will align with Uber's human-driven services like UberX and Uber Comfort. Uber handles the charging, maintenance, and cleaning of the autonomous vehicles, while Waymo manages the technology and operations, including roadside assistance and passenger support.
