(Credit: Uber)
Waymo robotaxis will soon hit the streets of Atlanta, and you can hail them through the Uber app.
Interested customers can now join a waitlist to be among the first to try out an autonomous vehicle in the city. To sign up, update the Uber app and go to Account > Settings > Ride Preferences > Autonomous Vehicles > Join interest list. This will increase your chances of being matched with a Waymo car when the service launches this summer, Uber says.
Some riders who join the waitlist may be invited to take Waymo rides before the official launch. Updates about the early selection will be shared on the app and via email, Uber adds.
(Credit: Uber)At launch, Waymo rides will be available for 65 square miles of Atlanta, from Downtown to Buckhead to Capitol View. The two companies plan to expand the service to more areas in the future.
Rates for Waymo rides will be the same as UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric. Riders will see their rates upfront. Once they book a ride, a Waymo x Uber branded car will come to pick them up. They can unlock the car and start the trip by following instructions on the Uber app.
Riders will also be able to provide feedback about the ride after drop-off. During early access, they will receive 50% back in Uber Cash (up to $10) on their first Waymo ride. Uber Cash, which is valid for 30 days after reflecting in a user’s account, can be used for future Uber rides.
The update follows a similar Uber x Waymo launch in Austin. After opening an interest list in February, Uber officially rolled out the service to the Texas capital in March. Last week, Waymo also announced that it's ready to hit the streets in Tokyo.
Tesla plans to launch its own autonomous ridesharing service in Austin this June. It’s unclear if the Elon Musk-led company will have its own app for the service (Waymo has Waymo One), but Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi is open to adding Tesla robotaxis to the Uber app, too.