(Credit: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
Waymo's Jaguar I-PACE electric robotaxis will soon be available through Uber in Austin, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia early next year, Uber and Waymo announced Friday.
Uber will oversee the cleaning, repair, and general management of the Waymo vehicles, while Waymo will continue to develop its autonomous driving tech. It's currently unclear exactly how many Waymo robotaxis will be deployed as part of the expanded working relationship between the companies, but Uber says there will eventually be "hundreds" of the SUVs in Atlanta and Austin at some point in the future. Waymo first began testing its robotaxis in Atlanta earlier this year.
In a few weeks, some Waymo One app users may be able to get early access to the robotaxis in Austin and Atlanta. "Waymo has already begun serving fully autonomous rides to employees in Austin," the robotaxi firm said in a post.
Eventually, the Waymo One app will roll over to the Uber app in Austin. Those in Atlanta and Austin with just the Uber app will have to wait until 2025 to snag a ride in a robotaxi, however.
Back in 2017, Uber and Waymo had a legal battle over Waymo secrets being allegedly handed off to Uber by a former employee. But the two companies have since started working together, adding Waymo robotaxis to the Uber app in Phoenix, Arizona last year.
Earlier this year, the Waymo vehicles began delivering Uber Eats orders across Phoenix, too. Waymo's autonomous Jaguar EVs are also driving in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Waymo robotaxis have already been fulfilling over 100,000 weekly paid rides across these three cities, with the expansion to Atlanta and Austin poised to further increase these numbers next year.
Uber's latest move with Waymo is part of its broader push for more autonomous vehicle rides. It's also struck an agreement to bring GM's Cruise robotaxis to its app sometime next year. And Uber's working with Wayve, which develops AI-powered autonomous driving tech.
After years of speculation about robotaxis replacing human drivers, it looks like autonomous vehicles will likely become an even bigger part of city life in 2025.