Austin and Atlanta to Welcome Uber’s Robotaxis Next Year
In an exciting development for residents of Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Uber has announced a partnership with Waymo to launch robotaxis in these cities beginning next year. This collaboration marks a significant shift, as Uber and Waymo were once engaged in a fierce legal battle over trade secrets related to self-driving technology.
From Rivals to Partners
The partnership follows a previous agreement between the two companies that started in Phoenix last year. This new agreement indicates that both companies are ready to put their past disputes behind them. The legal skirmishes peaked in 2018, culminating in a lawsuit over allegations that Uber had stolen key self-driving technology from Waymo. Ultimately, the two companies reached a settlement of $245 million.
Future of Ride-Hailing
Under this new deal, Waymo’s autonomous vehicles will operate via Uber’s existing app, which is already popular among ride-hailing users in both Austin and Atlanta. Besides expanding Waymo’s reach, this arrangement could highlight Uber’s strategy to enhance its fleet with self-driving cars to meet increasing demand.
Uber’s embrace of Waymo’s robotic technology comes shortly after the company announced plans to also deploy driverless vehicles from General Motors’ Cruise subsidiary. However, specific details about where Uber will collaborate with Cruise next year are still not clear, especially since Cruise’s operations in California are currently on hold due to a serious accident in October 2023.
Waymo’s Record of Safety
Waymo has maintained a strong reputation in the autonomous vehicle space, successfully providing over 100,000 rides weekly across cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix through its own ride-hailing platform. Importantly, Waymo’s robotaxis have not been involved in major accidents, marking a contrast from its counterpart Cruise, which faced significant public scrutiny following accidents.
As Waymo’s robotaxis begin servicing riders in Austin and Atlanta, it reflects the company’s goal to introduce its self-driving technology to new markets in an efficient manner. This is particularly crucial for Waymo’s corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., which also owns Google. Although Alphabet does not disclose specific earnings for Waymo, estimates suggest that its robotaxi services contribute significantly to the $4.6 billion in operating losses reported by its “Other Bets” division during the first half of 2023.
Historical Context
The recent union between Uber and Waymo stands in striking contrast to their tumultuous history. Uber’s former CEO, Travis Kalanick, was accused of conspiring with former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski to steal critical self-driving technology from Waymo. This dispute led to Levandowski ultimately pleading guilty to criminal charges. However, he avoided a lengthy prison sentence when he was granted a pardon by President Donald Trump in January 2021, just before he exited office. Following these events, Uber made significant changes, selling its self-driving car division under the leadership of current CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.
Looking Ahead
The introduction of Waymo’s robotaxis will mark a significant step in the evolution of ride-hailing in Austin and Atlanta. As both companies aim to reshape transportation options in these cities, local residents might get to experience the future of mobility firsthand. As ride-hailing services and autonomous solutions continue to evolve, this partnership could pave the way for a new era in urban commuting.
