Waymo Uber Exclusivity to End in Austin and Atlanta in 2028

The Waymo Uber exclusivity deal in Austin and Atlanta will end in January 2028, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana told Bloomberg on November 4. After that, riders in both cities can also book Waymo robotaxis in Waymo's own app. That is already how it works in its other US markets.

Today, the only way to ride in a Waymo in Austin or Atlanta is through Uber. However, Uber told TechCrunch that it still plans to keep Waymo cars on its app for as long as the two companies agree. So this is the end of exclusivity, not necessarily a full breakup.

Why Is Waymo Ending the Uber Exclusivity?

Mawakana said Waymo first partnered with Uber because the ride-hail giant offered scale. Over time, though, the rider experience became "a little bit of a crapshoot," she said. In practice, Uber users who turn on autonomous rides cannot be sure whether a robotaxi or a human driver will show up.

"It's important for us to have that relationship with the rider. We've gotten that feedback from the riders in those markets," Mawakana said. Uber pushed back on that point, telling Bloomberg that Waymo itself declined a dedicated option in the Uber app to book a robotaxi directly.

Is the Waymo Uber Change New?

Not entirely. Back in July, an Uber spokesperson told CNBC that Waymo planned to launch its app in both cities in January 2028. Uber also said hundreds of Waymo vehicles would stay on its app through at least May 2028. That is when the current contract runs out. Earlier this year, the Financial Times had also reported that Waymo wanted out of the deal. As a result, the new part is Waymo's own confirmation and its reasoning.

What Does Uber Say About Robotaxis Now?

The news landed on the same day Uber reported third-quarter results. In prepared remarks, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi argued that robotaxi operators earn more on Uber. Vehicles on its network complete about 30% more trips per day than on operators' own apps, according to The Register. Uber also plans to put around 2,000 robotaxis on the road in 2027, before a larger ramp from 2028. Meanwhile, its gross bookings rose 20% to $59.8 billion in the quarter.

Waymo, for its part, keeps expanding on its own and with automakers, such as its robotaxi fleet plan with Toyota in Japan. In Austin, it also faces Tesla, whose service has had a rocky start, including a 70-minute ride for a 10-minute trip.

What Does the Waymo Uber Shift Mean for Riders?

Nothing changes for riders until January 2028. After that, people in Austin and Atlanta should get a guaranteed driverless ride in the Waymo app. Uber remains an option if both sides keep their deal. For a broader look at the competition, see our Waymo versus Tesla robotaxi race explainer.

Our Take

This is a fight over who owns the customer. Waymo wants riders to open its app, much like Google wants people on its own services. Uber, on the other hand, wants to be the place where every robotaxi company sells rides. In the end, riders could gain better service and more choice. That only works if both apps keep Waymo cars available.