Waymo Notifies Uber of Plan to Operate Independently in Austin and Atlanta in 2028

Waymo has notified Uber that it plans to begin independent operations in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028, as permitted by the contract. The two companies first established a partnership in 2023 but have seen relations deteriorate as they become direct competitors in some markets and push for rival robotaxi regulatory policies.

Waymo first launched robotaxi services with Uber in Phoenix in May 2023, followed by agreements in Austin and Atlanta. In those two cities, users could only hail Waymo vehicles through the Uber app, while Uber and partner Avomo managed the fleet. In May 2026, Waymo and Uber ended their partnership in Phoenix, Arizona, after the original contract expired. The two companies also clashed over the quality of Waymo services in the Austin and Atlanta markets: Waymo questioned the cleanliness of Uber-operated vehicles and route planning, while Uber argued that its deployment operations were restricted.

In May 2026, Waymo drew negative attention after dozens of its autonomous vehicles blocked a dead-end street in Atlanta, with route planning at the time handled by Uber. Uber raised concerns about the partnership terms, saying the current financial arrangement was unsustainable and that Waymo vehicles would abruptly cease service in bad weather. In December 2025, after several incidents of autonomous vehicles improperly overtaking school buses in Austin, Uber wrote to Waymo expressing its concerns.

Waymo has entered multiple US markets without Uber, offering ride-hailing services through its own app. It plans to launch a direct ride-hailing service in Austin and Atlanta alongside the Uber channel, similar to its partnership with Lyft in Nashville. In a statement, Waymo said it believes in a vibrant, collaborative autonomous driving ecosystem that can drive innovation and give passengers a choice of how to experience the technology. Uber said it will continue to offer Waymo services in the two markets until the current contract ends in May 2028.

One reason for the escalating tensions is that Uber is lobbying state and federal policymakers to push for a so-called "hybrid network" model, where human-driven vehicles and autonomous vehicles operate on the same platform. In New Jersey, Uber lobbyists have proposed that in a three-year pilot program, any platform offering robotaxi services must have human drivers complete at least 85% of orders. Waymo supports raising licensing costs for new autonomous vehicle operators to create barriers to entry. Uber responded that the notion that it opposes autonomous driving or is trying to slow its deployment is incorrect, saying the hybrid network would allow consumers to access the technology faster while providing policymakers with a practical framework to manage the transition.