Latest news with #UberComfortElectric
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
You can now ride in driverless Ubers in this U.S. city
Austin just took a big leap into the future of transportation. Uber has partnered with Waymo to bring fully autonomous rides to the Texas capital, giving riders the chance to experience a driverless trip in an all-electric Jaguar I-PACE. Uber users in Austin requesting an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric ride can now opt in for a potential match with a Waymo self-driving vehicle at no extra cost. Waymo currently operates in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Miami, with plans to expand to Atlanta later this year. 'At Uber, we're reimagining how the world moves and building a future where autonomous vehicles and drivers work side by side to help make transportation more affordable, sustainable, and accessible for all,' Uber said in a recent statement. To increase your chances of being matched with a driverless vehicle, make sure you have the latest version of the Uber app and enable the autonomous vehicle (AV) preference in your account settings. Once matched, riders can unlock their Jaguar I-PACE through the Uber app, open the trunk, and begin the journey. The vehicle can be identified by its license plate and make/model. Similar to regular Uber rides, Waymo vehicles will wait several minutes for passengers to board. Each vehicle can accommodate up to four passengers, with seating available in any spot except the driver's seat. Currently, riders in Austin can travel within the city's 37-square-mile area. The program will expand its coverage area in the future. For any issues during the ride, Uber's 24/7 customer service is available both inside the vehicle and via the app. The post You can now ride in driverless Ubers in this U.S. city appeared first on The Manual.
CNN
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- CNN
Driverless Uber rides now challenging Elon Musk's Tesla in its backyard
Need an Uber? How about one without a driver? Beginning Tuesday, rideshare hailers on Uber in Austin, Texas, can call a driverless Waymo, from Google's parent company, Alphabet, for the first time. Travelers will be able to book rides across 37 square miles in Austin, the backyard of competitor Tesla, and in the Lone Star State that has long been a testing ground for driverless vehicles. 'We're true believers in the technology, and so personally, I believe autonomous vehicles coming to market is a good thing for the world… we're happy and genuinely excited to see autonomy coming to market and starting to scale,' said Andrew Macdonald, Uber's senior vice president of mobility and business operations, in an interview with CNN. 'When you have a supportive city, when you have a supportive local government, it encourages competition, it encourages innovation, and that ends up being a good thing for consumers.' It appears there's no bad blood between the two companies. Uber and Waymo, who were once embroiled in a lawsuit over self-driving technology, are now partners. 'Our partnership with Uber in Austin is an exciting step toward further scaling our safe, convenient, and sustainable autonomous technology,' said Nicole Gavel, Waymo's head of business development and strategic partnerships, in a statement. Riders in Austin who request an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric could be matched with a Waymo fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle, at no additional cost, for up to four people. Uber users can also boost their chances of getting a Waymo by adjusting their rider preferences. But if you don't want to go driverless, the request will ask beforehand if you'd rather a different car, Macdonald said. Uber has made attempts at entering the driverless market before, but not to this scale. In 2023, the company piloted a similar driverless launch in Phoenix, Arizona. The launch between Austin and soon-to-come later this year Atlanta will scale to hundreds of vehicles in both cities over the next few years. Employees at Uber are already taking autonomous trips in Atlanta. 'It is something new,' Macdonald said. 'It takes supportive local government as well as a willing consumer to bring it to market. We've got that in both of these markets.' Uber also previously owned and operated its own autonomous vehicle fleet before the pandemic but later sold that fleet to another autonomous vehicle company, Aurora. The news comes as Tesla, headquartered in Austin, has begun the process of seeking approval to offer ride-hailing services in California. The city has long been a testing ground for new technology, attracting startups and new firms, and home to a Tesla pant making Model Y and Cybertrucks. Now, Uber and Waymo are coming in. It doesn't cost extra to book a Waymo in Uber's app, and of course, no tip is required, though passengers can rate their experience. If a safety issue occurs, drivers have access to 24/7 human support on the Uber app. As a passenger is following along in the app, Macdonald explained, at the push of a button, they can request help. The vehicle can also sense if there's been an accident or any sort of incident. Safety was a paramount concern during General Motors' Cruise robotaxi operation, which GM ultimately pulled the plug on in December. The robotaxis had a string of incidents, including one in October 2023 in which one of its self-driving taxis in San Francisco hit a pedestrian and dragged the woman along the road for 20 feet. Cruise said it would refocus on driver-assistance features rather than fully autonomous vehicles. It doesn't stop here. Uber has plans to continue and cast its net wider to other cities, Macdonald said. For now, it's setting its focus on Austin and Atlanta and what can change for the average consumer. 'We expect this is going to grow the market overall' Macdonald said. 'This is going to really expand the opportunities to both for both human driven vehicles in Austin, as well as autonomous vehicles. The market will grow. The opportunities for overall expansion of rideshare and people doing away with individual car ownership are really compelling here.'
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Uber and Waymo officially launch autonomous vehicle service in Austin; what to know
Waymo's autonomous vehicles have been something of an Austin Easter egg for years, with locals often encountering them at stoplights or road crossings. However, they will now be less of a tech-themed beautification project and more of a realistic option for getting around the city. Starting today, riders can be matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle on the Uber app and travel across 37 square miles of Austin. 'Starting today, Austin riders can be matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle on the Uber app, making their next trip even more special,' said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO at Uber. 'With Waymo's technology and Uber's proven platform, we're excited to introduce our customers to a future of transportation that is increasingly electric and autonomous.' Nicole Gavel, Waymo's head of business development and strategic partnerships, emphasized the importance of the company's longstanding relationship with Austin. "When we think about cities, especially the early cities that that we think about bringing Waymo One to, part of it is folks who are maybe early adopters to technology, or enthusiasts of technology and from a city government perspective, that are supporters of new innovations," Gavel said. Eager Austinites can get into a Waymo-powered Uber by opting in via the Ride Preferences" section of the Uber app, found under Settings. This will give riders the best chance of being matched with a self-driving Waymo vehicle. Uber riders in Austin who request an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric will be eligible to be matched with a Waymo fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle. Once the Waymo arrives, riders will be able to unlock the vehicle, open the trunk, and start the trip, all from their familiar Uber app. According to Uber, riders matched with a Waymo vehicle will pay the same rates as UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric, and will receive upfront pricing in the Uber app. Customers can rate their experience in-app, just like any typical Uber ride. However, riders will not be prompted to tip if matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle. Along with Uber's Waymo option officially launching Tuesday, the company will manage fleet services in partnership with Avomo for the first time. This will include vehicle cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging, and depot operations. Waymo remains responsible for vehicle testing, roadside assistance, and certain aspects of rider support. Andrew Macdonald, Uber's senior vice president of mobility and business operations, said this launch is a continuation of the company's strategy to leverage social use cases to introduce new technology — similar to what it did during its early adoption in nightlife and events. "You know, we're a technology company, but we operate in the real world, and that means you deal with the complexity and messiness of the real world," Macdonald said, "It's something we've solved in our core ride share business, and it's something autonomous vehicles are gonna' have to develop and get used to as well." Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@ This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Uber and Waymo officially launch autonomous ride service across Austin
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Waymo and Uber's Austin robotaxi expansion begins today
Waymo and Uber's robotaxi service is launching today in Austin, exclusively in the Uber app. The companies announced their plan to expand to Austin and Atlanta in September 2024, and Waymo raised a cool $5.6 billion in October to help pay for it. Unlike the Waymo One service offered to riders in San Francisco and Los Angeles, interested Austin riders will get a chance to ride in a Waymo just by ordering an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric ride, similar to how things are handled in Phoenix. You're not guaranteed to receive a Waymo when you do order one of those rides, but Uber says you can increase your chances of receiving one by changing your "Ride Preferences" in the app. Upfront prices remain the same whether you get a Waymo or not, though if you do end up in a robotaxi, you won't be prompted to tip. You'll use the Uber app to unlock the Waymo, open its trunk and start your ride, too. Uber says Waymo One will cover 37 square miles in Austin, and in a first for the company, Waymo vehicles themselves will be stored, cleaned and maintained by a third-party partner, Avomo, theoretically making the experience even more taxi-like than before. Waymo won't be the only major self-driving shop offering rides in Austin. Tesla's robotaxi service is supposed to launch in the Texas capital in June. They're not evenly matched so far, though. In May 2024, Waymo said it makes 50,000 paid trips every week. It remains to be seen how quickly Tesla will reach the same scale. For its part, Uber has expressed interest in offering Tesla rides through its app, too, though so far the EV company is operating on its own.
Bloomberg
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Uber and Waymo Begin Driverless Ridehailing Service in Austin
Uber Technologies Inc. on Tuesday will begin offering its customers driverless Waymo rides in Austin, marking the official start of a planned launch between the two companies. Riders who request an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric could be matched with Waymo's electric Jaguar vehicles at no additional cost, the company said in a statement Tuesday. Customers will have the option to accept or switch to a non-driverless vehicle before a nearby Waymo is dispatched. Uber told users last month they could increase their chances of being sent an autonomous vehicle if they indicated their preference in the Uber app.
