Waymo to launch own app in Austin and Atlanta as Uber exclusivity ends in 2028

What happened

Waymo plans to drop its exclusive arrangement with Uber in Austin and Atlanta beginning in January 2028, TechCrunch reported. Riders in both cities will then be able to book its robotaxis through Waymo's own smartphone app, as is already the case in other cities where it operates. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana disclosed the change in an interview with Bloomberg News published Wednesday.

Mawakana told Bloomberg that Waymo first teamed up with Uber because the ride-hail company could deliver scale. She described the rider experience as inconsistent, in part because people requesting a trip cannot be certain whether a robotaxi or a human driver will show up. She said owning the relationship with riders matters to Waymo and that riders in the two markets have told the company as much.

Uber said it intends to keep offering Waymo vehicles on its platform for as long as both companies agree to it. Uber also told Bloomberg that the decision not to add a way to book a robotaxi directly inside its app came from Waymo. A comment from Waymo was not immediately available.

Context

Reporting earlier this year indicated that Waymo was looking for a way out of its agreement with Uber, which had been scheduled to run until May 2028. The January 2028 date therefore comes a few months before the deal's original end. Waymo already sells rides directly through its app in other cities, so the shift brings Austin and Atlanta in line with how it operates elsewhere.