Waymo reportedly considers ending robotaxi partnership with Uber

Source: Just Auto / GlobalData

Alphabet's Waymo is reportedly considering ending its partnership with Uber, as tensions escalate over robotaxi operations in Austin and Atlanta, as well as differing stances on autonomous vehicle regulation.

According to the Financial Times, citing unnamed sources, the self-driving car company has held internal discussions about whether to exit its existing agreements with the ride-hailing giant.

Key Developments

• Uber has stated that Waymo informed it of plans to operate independently in Austin and Atlanta starting January 2028, as permitted under the current contract.
• Uber expects to continue offering Waymo services in both cities until May 2028, when the agreement expires.
• The partnership began in May 2023 with a robotaxi trial in Phoenix.
• Subsequent deals were reached for Austin and Atlanta, where Waymo vehicles are available exclusively through the Uber app, with Uber managing the fleet alongside partner Avomo.
• The Phoenix arrangement ended in May 2026 upon expiration.

Growing Rivalry

The relationship has deteriorated as both companies become closer competitors in certain markets and advocate for different approaches to robotaxi regulation.

One source cited in the report noted that the companies were "pursuing diverging objectives."

Complaints and Incidents

• Waymo has raised concerns about vehicle cleanliness and routing in Austin and Atlanta.
• Uber has complained about limited deployment of Waymo vehicles.
• In May 2026, dozens of Waymo vehicles blocked a cul-de-sac in Atlanta; sources said Uber was responsible for routing them.
• Uber has also objected to the partnership's financial terms and to Waymo vehicles becoming unavailable during bad weather.
• In December 2025, Uber contacted Waymo after incidents in Austin where vehicles drove past stopped school buses.

Waymo's Expansion Plans

Waymo has expanded into several U.S. markets without Uber, using its own booking app. It plans to initially offer direct bookings in Austin and Atlanta alongside Uber, similar to its arrangement with Lyft in Nashville. A complete separation has not been ruled out.

"We believe in a vibrant and collaborative AV ecosystem that champions innovation and provides riders with a choice in how they experience this technology." – Waymo

Uber denied being "anti-AV or seeking to slow AV deployment," adding that hybrid networks "get the technology to consumers sooner while giving policymakers a practical framework to manage the transition."

Financial Context

In February 2026, Waymo completed a $16 billion financing round, valuing the autonomous driving company at $126 billion on a post-money basis.

• The investment was led by Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global, and Sequoia Capital.
• Alphabet remains the largest shareholder.
• Andreessen Horowitz and Mubadala Capital also participated.

This article was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData-owned brand.