Autonomous Waymo rides to be provided by Uber in Atlanta and Austin.
Waymo and Uber Expand Partnership for Autonomous Ridesharing
Waymo, the autonomous driving subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has shared details of its sixth-generation Waymo Driver technology stack last month. This development is part of a growing partnership with Uber Technologies, aiming to bring self-driving vehicles to more cities across the United States.
The partnership, announced in May 2023, will deploy self-driving vehicles on the Uber platform in two new cities, Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, starting in 2025. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi expressed excitement about this collaboration, stating that "fully autonomous driving is quickly becoming part of everyday life."
Waymo operates its own autonomous ride-hailing service called Waymo One, which provides over 100,000 trips each week across San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. To cater to the growing demand for autonomous ridesharing, Waymo will make its electric Jaguar I-Pace SUVs available on Uber's platform in the mentioned cities.
The sixth-generation Waymo Driver uses a combination of high-resolution maps, cameras, lidar, and radar to monitor the environment and safely navigate. It includes 13 cameras, four lidars, six radar units, and an array of external audio receivers. This advanced technology will enable the number of Waymo vehicles on the platform to grow into the hundreds over time.
Uber, meanwhile, has been preparing to tap into the appetite for autonomous ridesharing by forging partnerships with several industry leaders. In addition to the collaboration with Waymo, Uber also has a second collaboration and strategic investment in London-based Wayve to deploy autonomous vehicles in global markets.
Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, expressed her excitement about the partnership with Uber, stating that it provides Waymo with an opportunity to reach even more people. Uber's recent announcement of plans to add vehicles from GM's Cruise unit to its platform next year further underscores the company's commitment to autonomous ridesharing.
Notably, Waymo's Phoenix robotaxi operations have the largest fully autonomous service area in the world, covering 180 square miles, according to the company. This expansion of self-driving technology is set to redefine the future of transportation, making it more accessible and efficient for millions of people.
The expanded partnership between Uber and Waymo is a significant step towards the mainstream adoption of autonomous vehicles. As the technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see more cities embracing self-driving transportation solutions, providing safer, more convenient, and more sustainable travel options for everyone.
