Waymo and Uber Expand Robotaxi Service to Atlanta

Waymo and Uber have started their experimental new service “Waymo on Uber” in Atlanta. That’ll be the second city to receive this special robotaxi treatment! This is the new service that launched in Austin this past spring. It brings riders on board with Waymo’s autonomous fleet through the Uber app, combining the capabilities of both companies in the burgeoning self-driving technology space.

Now you could summon Waymo’s fleet of driverless vehicles using the familiar Uber interface. The “Waymo on Uber” service would have made it seamless and easy for riders. Through this partnership, Uber is given the keys to the kingdom. They’re in charge of charging, maintenance and cleaning of the autonomous vehicles too so users can count on a smooth, consistent experience. By taking on these logistical factors, Uber helps give Waymo more bandwidth to direct the technological oversight of their vehicles.

Waymo controls the sophisticated technology that enables those vehicles to be autonomous, tracking their drives to ensure productivity and safety. Waymo offers rider assistance, giving riders the assurance of help at any time during their trip. This split of responsibilities enables both companies to maximize their skill sets while providing a seamless experience to riders.

The official public launch of the “Waymo on Uber” service is scheduled for this coming summer. However, select customers who signed up on a waitlist earlier this year will be granted early access to robotaxi rides in Atlanta. This new strategy provides ample room for a measured framework that allows for a pilot release. It allows each company to collect feedback and make any necessary changes before the official launch.

To incentivize riders to join the program, those who take their first ride with Waymo will be given $10 in free Uber credits. This modest incentive is intended to encourage users to try out the new service and showcase its convenience and usefulness.

With this extension into Atlanta, Waymo and Uber are both, again, working together to reshape the future of transportation in our cities. Waymo on Uber Not only does this new service provide an amazing technology experience for riders, most significantly though, it underscores the power of these partnerships to address the challenges of deploying autonomous vehicle fleets safely and effectively.