(Credit: Uber)
After launching autonomous rides in Austin with Uber earlier this year, Waymo is once again teaming up with the ride-hailing app to bring its self-driving fleet to Atlanta.
Riders won't be able to specifically request a self-driving car. If they select an UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric in the app, they "could be matched" with a self-driving, electric Jaguar I-Pace, Uber says. They can, however, note their preference for a driverless ride by toggling "Get More Waymo Rides" to on in Settings to increase their chances of being matched with one.
(Credit: Uber)If the rider matches with a Waymo, the app will notify them and give them the option to accept it or switch to a car driven by a human. There are currently about 100 cars in the Atlanta fleet, with plans to have "hundreds...over the next few years," Uber says.
Autonomous rides do not cost more, and can take trips up to 65 miles within a specific area of the city, shown below. When the car arrives, riders use the app to unlock it, open the trunk, and start the trip. Once they've arrived, the app will not prompt them to tip since there is no person to give it to, which could push more riders to request autonomous vehicles.
(Credit: Uber)"We’re thrilled to continue deepening our partnership with Waymo as we expand autonomous rides to Atlanta,” says Sarfraz Maredia, Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber. "By integrating Waymo’s cutting-edge technology into the Uber platform, we’re continuing to make transportation more convenient, sustainable, and reliable."
Uber manages the fleet (cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging) through one of its partners, Avomo, so that's another difference from its typical offering, where the driver provides the car. Riders can expect more consistency in each vehicle for that reason. If there are any issues, Uber offers 24/7 support through the app and inside the Waymo vehicle.
This is a major evolution in Uber's business as it looks to scale a new "hybrid network" of both autonomous and human-operated car. It's assembled 18 autonomous vehicle partners, such as Volkswagen and May Mobility, and hopes to remain the top dog in ridesharing as competitors like Tesla develop their own services with a focus on self-driving cars. Tesla's robotaxis debuted last weekend in Austin, albeit in a very limited capacity with Tesla-friendly influencers taking rides.
(Credit: Uber)Autonomous cars have limitations, however, requiring human drivers in certain cases. "There are definitely things autonomous vehicles can’t do, like picking up at a private event or going long distances,” Wendy Lee, Uber’s director of autonomous mobility and delivery products, told us at an event in May. “We’ll see what that looks like over time and how it develops.”
Waymo is also still working on its software, called the Waymo Driver. The company is testing in multiple locations in the US, such as rainy Miami and snowy, congested New York City. It's already operating in several other cities, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Drivers there can call a car through the Waymo app. The benefit of using the Uber app is familiarity, as well as the possibility to get matched with a human driver to get a ride faster.