Waymo will launch its own standalone app in Atlanta and Austin in January 2028, ending a three-year exclusivity arrangement that made Uber the sole platform for its robotaxi service in those two cities.
Alphabet's Waymo will end its exclusivity arrangement with Uber in Atlanta and Austin, Texas, launching its own standalone app in both cities in January 2028, ending a three-year partnership structure that had made Uber the sole conduit for robotaxi rides in those markets.
An Uber spokesperson confirmed the change in an email on Friday, stating that Waymo had notified the company of its intent to "launch the Waymo app in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028, alongside their existing deployment with Uber."
The move signals a shift in Waymo's commercial strategy as the company has expanded its footprint across the United States without relying on exclusive distribution agreements.
Waymo's robotaxis are now live in nine markets beyond Atlanta and Austin, according to the company's website, with additional cities at various stages of testing. Last year, Waymo also reached a deal with Lyft to offer robotaxi rides in Nashville, Tennessee, on a non-exclusive basis.
The existing contract between Uber and Waymo runs through at least May 2028, during which hundreds of Waymo robotaxis will remain available on the Uber platform in both cities.
The end of exclusivity also opens the door for Uber to place other autonomous vehicle operators on its platform in Atlanta and Austin, independent of Waymo.
A Waymo spokesperson said in an email that users need "choice in how they experience this technology," adding: "This is essential to the industry's future and to our vision of making the Waymo app and the safety of our technology available to riders everywhere."
The announcement came as reports surfaced that Waymo had held internal discussions about whether to split from Uber entirely, amid tensions between the two companies over conflicting policy proposals they are pursuing in different U.S. markets.
Uber shares dropped more than 4% on the news.
Uber has been building out its own autonomous vehicle strategy independent of Waymo, committing to purchase vehicles from partners including startups Waabi, Wayve, and Nuro, as well as electric vehicle maker Rivian, once their self-driving systems are validated for driverless operation. Tesla, Amazon's Zoox, and other autonomous vehicle developers have also been rolling out standalone apps for rider hailing, intensifying competition across the sector.
With Waymo now operating at scale across more than a dozen markets and preparing to deploy its own consumer-facing app in cities where it previously depended on Uber's distribution network, the competitive dynamics between the two companies will be closely watched ahead of the January 2028 launch date.
Sara Montes de Oca is the Editor in Chief of TechEchelon. Previously a correspondent and producer in Washington, D.C., covering business, finance, and politics.
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