Uber and Waymo are stepping back from their exclusive robotaxi agreement in Atlanta and Austin, moving toward a more open collaboration. While Waymo’s autonomous vehicles will continue to appear on the Uber app in these cities for now, the exclusive deal granting Uber sole rights to manage Waymo’s self-driving fleet is ending.
The partnership began with a pilot in Phoenix in 2023, before expanding in September 2024 to give Uber exclusive service rights in Austin and Atlanta. Uber launched Waymo’s robotaxi service in Austin in March 2025, followed by Atlanta in June 2025. By mid-2025, Waymo operated about 100 vehicles in Austin, and the service maintained a strong 4.9-star rider rating.
Waymo’s exclusive presence in Phoenix is already winding down, with vehicles shifting back to Waymo’s own app around late June 2026. Analysts expect the complete split between Uber and Waymo to be finalized by early 2027, ending a partnership that started with high ambitions but is now evolving to adapt to changing strategies in autonomous mobility.
Uber shares remained steady following the announcement.
