Waymo ends Uber-only robotaxi arrangement in Atlanta and Austin

Uber and Alphabet-owned Waymo will end their exclusive robotaxi partnership in Atlanta and Austin in early 2028, allowing riders to book autonomous vehicles through either company's app.

The move marks a shift in Waymo's strategy as it continues expanding its self-driving taxi service across the United States, as per CNBC.

Waymo to launch its own app in two cities

Waymo said it plans to introduce its standalone app in Atlanta and Austin in January 2028, ending the current arrangement under which its robotaxis are available only through the Uber app.

Despite the change, hundreds of Waymo autonomous vehicles will continue operating on Uber's platform until at least May 2028 under the companies' existing agreement.

A Waymo spokesperson said giving customers more ways to access the service is important as the company works to make its technology more widely available.

Shift reflects growing robotaxi expansion

The decision comes as Waymo gains traction in the robotaxi market, with its self-driving ride service already operating in nine other US cities and additional locations undergoing testing.

The company also partnered with Lyft last year to launch robotaxi rides in Nashville under a non-exclusive agreement.

Ending exclusivity with Uber will also allow the ride-hailing company to add autonomous vehicles from other developers to its platform in Atlanta and Austin.

Competition intensifies in autonomous driving

The Financial Times reported that Waymo had previously discussed internally whether to separate further from Uber because of tensions over policy proposals in different US markets.

Following the news, Uber shares fell more than 4%.

Meanwhile, Uber continues investing in autonomous vehicle technology through partnerships with companies including Waabi, Wayve, Nuro and Rivian. Other robotaxi developers, including Tesla and Amazon-owned Zoox, also operate or are developing standalone ride-hailing apps for self-driving vehicles.