Waymo reportedly mulling a breakup with Uber
Quick Answer
Waymo is reportedly seeking to terminate its partnership with Uber, planning to launch its own robotaxi service in Austin and Atlanta by January 2028.
Quick Take
This decision follows rising tensions, including criticisms from Uber's executives regarding the safety of Waymo's robotaxis in specific scenarios.
Key Points
- Waymo intends to launch its robotaxi service independently in Austin and Atlanta by January 2028.
- The current contract with Uber for these markets is set to expire in May 2028.
- Tensions have escalated between Waymo and Uber, including public criticisms of safety.
- Waymo and Uber previously ended their partnership in Phoenix earlier this year.
- Uber's CTO highlighted concerns over the safety of Waymo's robotaxi behavior.
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Waymo is reportedly looking for a way out of its deal with Uber, which has made the Alphabet-owned company’s robotaxis available on the ride-hailing giant’s network in Austin and Atlanta, according to the Financial Times.
Waymo already told Uber that it intends to offer robotaxis on its own app in those markets starting in January 2028 and alongside the existing offering, the ride-hail giant told TechCrunch on Friday. Uber said the contract with Waymo that covers Austin and Atlanta ends in May 2028. The two companies already split in Phoenix earlier this year, as TechCrunch first reported.
Waymo didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
This all follows months of rising tensions between Waymo and Uber. Earlier this year, Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli posted a video of what he thought was unsafe and “scary” behavior of a Waymo robotaxi. In May, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi lightly criticized the behavior of Waymo’s robotaxis in school zones and emergency situations during an earnings call, though without naming the company.
Waymo, meanwhile, has wound up opposite Uber in a number of fresh policy fights over robotaxi regulations.
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