Waymo Robotaxis is now available for welcome in Atlanta via Uber. The companies, which already provide “Uber-on-Uber” services in Austin, said on Tuesday that commercial services will first cover about 65 square miles in Atlanta.
The launch is poised to drive both companies’ business if successful. Uber said it has partnerships with 18 self-driving vehicle companies, with an annual run rate of 1.5 million mobility and a streaming AV trip on its network. Meanwhile, Waymo said it offers 250,000 paid Robotaxis rides per week in Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco.
Adding Atlanta to that list will push those numbers up.
Atlanta’s Waymo fleet is in “dozens” and will eventually expand over time, a company spokesperson told TechCrunch. The company has previously said that the shared fleet between Atlanta and Austin will grow to hundreds.
The Waymo on Uber service is a hybrid of Robotaxis and human-powered vehicles. Uber users can set settings in their apps to increase the likelihood that they match Waymo.
Its structure is different from other markets operated by Waymo. In these cities, riders use the Waymo One app to evoke Robotaxis.
When Uber users are notified, they are consistent with WAYMO, so they can choose to accept or switch human-driven vehicles. When Robotaxi arrives, the rider uses the Uber app to unlock the vehicle, open the trunk, and begin the trip.
Robotaxi vehicles cost the same as human-driven Uberx, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric, the company said.
The “Waymo on Uber” service divides the responsibility for owning and operating unmanned vehicles. Uber handles charging, maintenance and cleaning of self-driving cars and manages access to Robotaxis via the app. Meanwhile, Waymo oversees technology and autonomous operations, including roadside assistance and specific aspects of rider support.
Last September, Uber and Waymo announced plans to provide Robotaxi services in Austin and Atlanta as part of their partnership in early 2025. In March, businesses began offering the “Waymo on Uber” Robotaxi service in Austin. According to the company, Waymo has more than 100 Robotaxis in its commercial fleet in Austin.
