Waymo

Autonomous Vehicles · Ride-Hailing · Robotaxis

Expansion

Waymo to launch own app in Austin, Atlanta by 2028, ending Uber exclusivity

The shift follows months of friction over safety incidents and economics, as robotaxi operators race to own the rider relationship directly.

• Waymo told Uber it will launch its own app in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028, ending three years of exclusive robotaxi access via Uber, though Waymo's fleet stays on Uber's platform through at least May 2028.
• Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving unit, is now the leading U.S. robotaxi operator, running driverless rides in 11 metro areas and delivering more than 500,000 paid trips per week.
• Ending exclusivity frees Uber to add other autonomous-vehicle partners, including Waabi, Wayve, Nuro and Rivian, to its platform in Austin and Atlanta once their vehicles are validated.
• The split follows Waymo's quiet exit from Phoenix earlier this year and mounting friction, with Uber citing unsustainable economics and safety lapses such as robotaxis driving into flooded roads and passing stopped school buses.
• Uber shares fell more than 4%, closing below $66—their lowest level in over a year—while Alphabet's stock ticked up less than 1% on the news.
• The Financial Times reported Waymo had held internal discussions about a full breakup with Uber; Waymo said riders 'need choice in how they experience this technology.'
• The move underscores robotaxi makers' shift from selling rides through aggregators to building direct-to-consumer apps, a strategy also pursued by Tesla and Amazon's Zoox, forcing platforms like Uber to diversify their AV supply.