Waymo to Launch Own Robotaxi App in Austin, Atlanta
Waymo plans to end its exclusive Uber partnership in Austin and Atlanta and offer rides through its own app starting in January 2028.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Robotics
Waymo plans to launch its own robotaxi app in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028, ending its exclusive robotaxi partnership with Uber in those cities. Currently, Waymo's service in the two cities is available only through Uber's platform.
Why it matters
The shift follows customer feedback asking for more consistency when ordering self-driving rides, and riders in Austin and Atlanta currently have no guarantee of getting a Waymo through Uber. The move mirrors Waymo's approach in San Francisco, where it already operates through its own consumer app.
Waymo operates approximately 4,000 vehicles across the US and completes more than 500,000 trips per week in 14 cities. It remains unclear when the company expects to reach profitability.
The players
Waymo
Waymo is Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary that operates a self-driving robotaxi service and has filed safety recalls over its software's driving behavior.
Uber
Uber is a global ride-hailing platform that has served as Waymo's exclusive robotaxi partner in Austin and Atlanta.
The details
Riders in Austin and Atlanta can currently indicate a preference for an autonomous vehicle in the Uber app but are matched only if one is nearby. Waymo declined an Uber request to add a robotaxi ride option for customers in those cities, and rides on average cost more than cabs or ride-hails.
Timeline
January 2028: Waymo targets the launch of its own app service in Austin and Atlanta.
The Tech Race
Waymo and Tesla have both chosen to rely on their own robotaxi apps rather than deepen relationships with ride-hailing networks. The Austin and Atlanta plan extends Waymo's standalone-app model, already in place in San Francisco, to additional markets.
Riders in Austin and Atlanta who want a Waymo will need to use Waymo's own app once it launches, rather than relying on Uber to match them. Until then, the Uber app only matches riders to an autonomous vehicle when one is nearby.
The takeaway
Riders who want a Waymo in Austin or Atlanta should plan to use Waymo's own app once it launches in January 2028, rather than depending on Uber matching.
What happens next
Waymo's own app is scheduled to launch in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028, when the Uber exclusivity in those cities is expected to end.
Further reading
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