Latest news with #WaymoonUber
The Star
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Robotaxi service by Waymo, Uber expands to U.S. Atlanta
SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Waymo and Uber said on Tuesday that their commercial robotaxi service will expand to Atlanta in the U.S. state of Georgia. The service will initially cover about 65 square miles in Atlanta. Waymo's fleet in Atlanta is in the "dozens" and will eventually be expanded over time, the company said. Uber said it has an annual run rate of 1.5 million mobility and delivery trips by autonomous vehicles in partnerships with 18 autonomous vehicle companies on its network. Waymo said it provides 250,000 paid robotaxi rides every week across Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Robotaxi rides will cost the same as an UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric driven by a human, the companies said. The "Waymo on Uber" service splits the responsibilities of owning and operating a fleet of driverless vehicles. Uber handles the charging, maintenance, and cleaning of the autonomous vehicles, and manages access to the robotaxis via its app. Meanwhile, Waymo monitors the tech and the autonomous operations, including roadside assistance and certain aspects of rider support, according to a report by TechCrunch. Last September, Uber and Waymo announced plans to offer robotaxi service in Austin and Atlanta in early 2025 as part of an expanded partnership. In March, the companies started offering the "Waymo on Uber" robotaxi service in Austin. Waymo has more than 100 robotaxis in its commercial fleet in Austin, according to the company.
Miami Herald
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Waymo brings its robotaxis to a new city
Many people feel skeptical about getting into a car with no driver behind the wheel. But many experts believe robotaxis are the way of the future (and studies show a lot of regular riders are warming up to the technology, too). Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been one of the earliest high-profile voices to champion the technology, with promises made during Tesla's Q4 earnings call that a robotaxi service will debut in Austin, Texas this year. Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE Daily newsletter "We're going to be launching unsupervised Full Self-Driving as a paid service in Austin in June," Musk said. The service will use Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The Tesla Cybercab, which Tesla first showed off in 2024 as a driverless option, will not be used just yet, as its production has been pushed back to 2026. Related: Waymo's ambitious robotaxi plan is a shot across Tesla's bow However, Musk isn't the only person exploring the space. Alphabet (GOOGL) -owned Waymo is also known for its robotaxis, and perhaps more notable, the company launched them years before Musk was able to debut his own. They can actually be used today in some states. Up until now, Waymo's self-driving vehicles have only been available in San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, and Los Angeles. But now Waymo has confirmed that a city on its list will finally offer the driverless service. Waymo announced on April 15 that it would be bringing its "Waymo on Uber" program to Atlanta this summer. While Atlanta has been mentioned in the company's previous plans, this is the first time we are hearing specifics on when the service will make its debut. Waymo One on Uber will specifically be available in popular areas of Atlanta, including downtown, Buckhead, and Capitol View. Waymo says that this area will be expanded in the future. Related: Cruise collapse creates opportunity for big robotaxi rival Atlanta will also be the second city on Waymo's list to feature the co-branded Jaguar I-PACE vehicles. Uber opened an interest list on April 15 for interested parties to join. Both Uber and Waymo say that those on the list are most likely to be able to hail the driverless rides once the service launches. Signing up also increases customers' chances to secure early access to the rides before they launch for the public. Once the service launches in Atlanta this summer, you'll need to do more than just open the Uber app to find one. You'll need to update your Uber app to let it know you're open to the driverless experience. Go into your account, and then into your settings. Check out the "Ride Preferences" section. You can check off autonomous vehicles here and also join the interest list. Riders selected to try it will be notified by email. That means if you are chosen, soon enough you, too, will have the exciting and mildly haunting experience of watching your ride drive itself (it still gives this writer the shivers). A few more things to know: the price of hailing a robotaxi will be the same as the cost of taking an Uber X, and the price will be viewable in the app just as with any regular ride. If you're worried about what happens if you need help during the ride, you can ask for it both inside the vehicle or via the Uber app, and you will be able to talk to a human. Related: General Motors and Nvidia team up to revive its self-driving prospects The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Uber users in Austin are getting matched with Waymo robotaxis
Uber users in Austin now have a choice between a Waymo robotaxi and a human driver. The two companies officially launched Tuesday the "Waymo on Uber" robotaxi service in Austin as part of a partnership that has deepened in recent months. The launch comes just days before SXSW, the annual tech, music, film, and comedy conference, kicks off in Austin. Starting today, Uber users who hail a ride may be matched with a Waymo robotaxi. Users will still be able to opt for the human-driven vehicle, and not the robotaxi, according to Uber. And both options will be priced the same. Waymo and Uber, once bitter rivals, have been on more amiable terms in recent years. Waymo's autonomous vehicles have been available on the Uber app in Phoenix since October 2023. And the two companies expanded the partnership last year with plans to launch a more exclusive "Waymo on Uber" robotaxi service in Austin and Atlanta in 2025. (Atlanta has yet to launch.) The structure of the "Waymo on Uber" service forecasts how each company envisions its role in the nascent autonomous vehicle industry. Under the arrangement, Waymo will be responsible for vehicle testing, roadside assistance, and certain aspects of rider support. Uber will manage the fleet services such as vehicle cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging, and depot operations through a company called Moove Cars, which is rebranding to Avomo. In 2021, Uber acquired a 30% minority interest in the European company Moove Cars — not to be mistaken with Moove, which coincidentally is managing Waymo's AV fleet in Phoenix. Until 2020, Uber was developing its own autonomous vehicles technology via its Uber ATG business. After several controversies, including a lawsuit with Waymo and a fatal crash involving an autonomous test vehicle, the ride-hailing company divested Uber ATG in a complex deal with Aurora. Uber eventually settled its suits with Waymo; a few years later the two companies would come together on friendlier terms. Uber has spent the past couple of years shoring up its position in the emerging robotaxi market by locking in partnerships with companies like Waymo. Uber has partnered with 14 autonomous vehicle companies that cover ride-hailing, delivery, and trucking — a handful of which are operating commercially. In December, Uber launched robotaxi rides with WeRide in Abu Dhabi. The company also has commercial deals with sidewalk delivery bot companies Avride, Cartken, and Serve Robotics
