Waymo and Uber have announced a partnership that will bring autonomous driving technology to the Uber platform. The multi-year deal aims to make Waymo’s autonomous system, known as the Waymo Driver, available to a larger audience through the Uber app.
According to a press release from the two companies the partnership will first paunch in Phoenix, where a select number of Waymo vehicles will be introduced across Waymo’s expanded 180-square-mile operating territory around Phoenix, which Waymo says is “the largest fully autonomous service area in the world.”
These vehicles will cater to local deliveries as well as ride-hailing trips, allowing Uber users to experience the Waymo Driver through both the Uber and Uber Eats apps. Riders will still have the option to directly hail a Waymo vehicle through the Waymo One app, further expanding accessibility to autonomous transportation services.
“Fully autonomous driving is quickly becoming part of everyday life, and we’re excited to bring Waymo’s incredible technology to the Uber platform,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber.
This isn’t the first time Uber has ventured into the autonomous driving space. The ride-sharing platform has previously partnered with Motional to launch a robotaxi service in Las Vegas featuring a fleet of all-electric Hyundai IONIQ 5 SUVs. That partnership is for 10 years, and will see the service expand next to Los Angeles. The two companies have also launched autonomous deliveries in LA through Uber Eats last year.
