Waymo and Uber, two rivals in the autonomous vehicle space, have announced a new partnership aimed at
expanding their self-driving car services and generating more business. The collaboration between these industry giants marks a significant step forward in their efforts to make autonomous vehicles a mainstream mode of transportation.
Waymo, known for its pioneering work in self-driving technology, will make its advanced Waymo Driver available to a wider audience through the Uber platform. The strategic partnership will initially roll out in Phoenix, where Waymo has already established a substantial presence. The goal is to leverage Uber’s extensive ridesharing and delivery networks, combining them with Waymo’s autonomous driving capabilities.
The integration of Waymo vehicles into the Uber and Uber Eats apps will allow users to experience the safety and convenience of autonomous rides and deliveries. While the exact number of Waymo vehicles that will be added to Uber’s fleet remains undisclosed, this collaboration opens up new avenues for both companies to enhance their services.
Waymo’s expansive operations in Phoenix cover an impressive area of over 180 square miles, making it the largest fully autonomous service territory worldwide. This provides an ideal environment for testing and refining autonomous technologies, as well as delivering a seamless self-driving experience to passengers.
By teaming up with Uber, Waymo gains access to a vast customer base, expanding the reach of its pioneering technology. While Uber has been at the forefront of human-operated ride-sharing, the partnership with Waymo allows Uber to tap into the potential of self-driving vehicles and electric fleets. The collaboration promises to offer more people the opportunity to experience the future of transportation.
Waymo’s unique “driver-as-a-service” model aligns with its long-term vision for commercializing autonomous vehicles. Rather than focusing solely on vehicle ownership, Waymo aims to lease out its autonomous driving technology. This approach allows for greater scalability and flexibility, opening up possibilities for future partnerships and commercial applications, such as autonomous trucking.
Pricing details for rides in Waymo’s autonomous vehicles within the Uber platform have not been disclosed. The cost will likely be determined by various factors specific to the Uber app. Waymo’s Jaguar fleet will be made available across different Uber tiers, including Uber X, Uber Comfort, Uber Green, and Uber Comfort Electric.
It’s worth noting that Waymo’s partnership with Uber goes beyond ride-hailing. The companies are also collaborating on autonomous long-haul trucking, enabling fleet owners to deploy trucks equipped with Waymo’s autonomous “driver” for on-demand delivery routes through Uber Freight.
While Waymo previously had a partnership with Lyft to deploy its robotaxis on the Lyft app, that collaboration ended in 2020. Waymo remains open to future discussions with Lyft as it continues to scale its operations.
Uber’s own autonomous vehicle development program faced setbacks after a fatal accident in 2017, leading to the suspension of its self-driving efforts. This collaboration with Waymo signals Uber’s renewed commitment to autonomous technology and its recognition of the value in partnering with established leaders in the field.
