Waymo and Uber Launch Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service in Austin

Waymo began offering robotaxi rides through Uber yesterday in Austin, Texas. Users in the area can experience the new technology at no extra cost.

According to the official announcement shared by Uber, riders who request certain services—UberX, Uber Comfort Electric, or Uber Green—may be randomly assigned to Waymo’s Jaguar I-PACE, a fully autonomous vehicle (AV). Those matched with a robotaxi will be notified and can choose to accept or decline the ride.

“We’re excited to introduce our customers to a future of transportation that is increasingly electric and autonomous,” states Uber’s announcement. “In Austin, Waymo rides will only be available on the Uber app.”

The ride-sharing company explained more details on what to expect from the experience. “Once the Waymo arrives, riders can unlock the vehicle, open the trunk, and start the trip – all from their familiar Uber app,” states the document. Users will get access to customer support 24/7 through the vehicle and the app.

Those eager to try the autonomous vehicle experience can adjust their Ride Preference through their Uber app settings and select “autonomous vehicles” to increase their chance of getting a Waymo robotaxi.

The area where the service will be available is located from Hide Park to Montopolis to Downtown. The companies expect to expand the area in Austin soon and offer the service in Atlanta as well.

Waymo and Uber announced the partnership to provide AV services in Austin and Atlanta in September last year. The robotaxi company also signed a contract with Hyundai in October and announced a new expansion plan in Japan in December.

However, Waymo has also faced challenges, and the public seems to have mixed feelings about the technology. A few months ago, one of Waymo’s robotaxis collided with a sidewalk delivery robot from Serve Robotics, raising concerns for pedestrians and users’ safety.