Uber is inviting clients to Atlanta to join a list if they are interested in greeting a Waymo Robotaxi while companies prepare to start a trading service in the city.
Uber and Waymo last September announced plans to provide a robotax service in Austin and Atlanta in early 2025 as part of an extended partnership. In March, companies began offering the Waymo On Uber service in Austin, about a month after the opening of a “interest list” for customers.
Companies said on Tuesday that the public would be able to greet a robotax in Atlanta this summer.
For both companies, the Waymo On Uber service shares the responsibilities of holding and operating a driverless fleet: Uber deals with charging, maintenance and cleaning of autonomous vehicles, as well as access to robotaxis through its app, while Waymo monitors autonomous technology and operations, including Riderance assistance.
Under the partnership, only Uber users can greet the Autonomous Jaguar I-Pace Fleet.
The relationship between the two companies took an 180 degree turn from the beginning of 2018, when they went head -to -head in a trial allegedly Uber stole the trade secrets belonging to Waymo. The lawsuit was resolved in February 2018.
In seven years of that solution, Waymo has been introduced away, developing, tested and eventually providing a commercial robotaxi service in Phoenix. The alphabet company later expanded its commercial service to San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Uber took a winding -winding road to offer a commercial robotaxi service. Following the solution, the Ridshare company continued to operate its home autonomous vehicle unit, called Uber ATG, for another two years. It would sell that subsidiary in a complex agreement with Aurora in December 2020.
But Uber soon began removing its position in the developing robotaxi market by partnering with autonomous vehicle developers. The company has hit agreements with 14 autonomous vehicle firms covering the travel greeting, distribution and truck-a small part of which are operating commercially. In December, Uber launched Robotaxi Rides in Abu Dhabi with Weride, and Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have been available in the Uber app in Phoenix since October 2023.
Soon, Atlanta will join the growing list of cities where locals can greet a driverless car. The service will initially cover 65 square miles of the city, including downtown areas, Buckhead and Capitol View. Companies said there are plans to expand the operational territory in the future.
Uber and Waymo said the customers joining the list will receive updates and increase their chances of greeting a robotax after the service is officially launched. Registering customers can also receive early access to Waymo trips before they are available to the public, according to companies.
To join, Uber customers in Atlanta must update the app, then go to “Account” and then “Settings”. From there, customers can click on “Ride Preferences”, where they have to see a list that includes autonomous vehicles and an opportunity to join the list of interest.
