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Ride Into the Future With Waymo on Uber in Austin

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Uber and Waymo have launched a partnership in Austin, Texas, allowing riders to be matched with Waymo's autonomous vehicles through the Uber app. The service covers 37 square miles of Austin, from Hyde Park to Downtown to Montopolis, with plans for future expansion.

Customers requesting UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric may be matched with a Waymo fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle at no additional cost. Riders can opt in through their Ride Preferences settings to increase chances of matching with a Waymo vehicle.

The partnership emphasizes safety with 24/7 customer support and Waymo's extensive autonomous driving experience. The service will expand to Atlanta next, where employees are already testing autonomous trips. This collaboration aims to make transportation more affordable, sustainable, and accessible while combining Waymo's technology with Uber's established platform.

Uber e Waymo hanno avviato una partnership ad Austin, Texas, consentendo ai passeggeri di essere abbinati ai veicoli autonomi di Waymo tramite l'app di Uber. Il servizio copre 37 miglia quadrate di Austin, da Hyde Park al centro fino a Montopolis, con piani per future espansioni.

I clienti che richiedono UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort o Uber Comfort Electric possono essere abbinati a un veicolo Jaguar I-PACE completamente autonomo e totalmente elettrico di Waymo senza costi aggiuntivi. I passeggeri possono attivare questa opzione tramite le impostazioni delle Preferenze di Viaggio per aumentare le possibilità di abbinamento con un veicolo Waymo.

La partnership pone l'accento sulla sicurezza con supporto clienti 24 ore su 24, 7 giorni su 7 e sull'ampia esperienza di guida autonoma di Waymo. Il servizio si espanderà prossimamente ad Atlanta, dove i dipendenti stanno già testando viaggi autonomi. Questa collaborazione mira a rendere il trasporto più conveniente, sostenibile e accessibile, combinando la tecnologia di Waymo con la piattaforma consolidata di Uber.

Uber y Waymo han lanzado una asociación en Austin, Texas, que permite a los pasajeros ser emparejados con los vehículos autónomos de Waymo a través de la aplicación de Uber. El servicio cubre 37 millas cuadradas de Austin, desde Hyde Park hasta el centro y Montopolis, con planes para futuras expansiones.

Los clientes que soliciten UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort o Uber Comfort Electric pueden ser emparejados con un vehículo Jaguar I-PACE totalmente eléctrico y autónomo de Waymo sin costo adicional. Los pasajeros pueden optar por esta opción a través de la configuración de Preferencias de Viaje para aumentar las posibilidades de emparejarse con un vehículo de Waymo.

La asociación enfatiza la seguridad con soporte al cliente 24/7 y la amplia experiencia de conducción autónoma de Waymo. El servicio se expandirá a Atlanta a continuación, donde los empleados ya están probando viajes autónomos. Esta colaboración tiene como objetivo hacer que el transporte sea más asequible, sostenible y accesible, combinando la tecnología de Waymo con la plataforma establecida de Uber.

우버웨이모는 텍사스 오스틴에서 파트너십을 시작하여 승객들이 우버 앱을 통해 웨이모의 자율주행 차량과 연결될 수 있도록 하고 있습니다. 이 서비스는 37평방 마일의 오스틴 지역을 커버하며, 하이드 파크에서 다운타운, 몬토폴리스까지 포함되며, 향후 확장 계획이 있습니다.

우버X, 우버 그린, 우버 컴포트 또는 우버 컴포트 전기차를 요청하는 고객은 웨이모의 완전 자율 전기 재규어 I-PACE 차량과 연결될 수 있으며 추가 비용은 없습니다. 승객들은 차량 매칭 가능성을 높이기 위해 여행 선호 설정에서 이 옵션을 활성화할 수 있습니다.

이 파트너십은 24시간 고객 지원과 웨이모의 광범위한 자율주행 경험을 강조합니다. 이 서비스는 다음으로 애틀랜타로 확장될 예정이며, 직원들이 이미 자율주행 여행을 테스트하고 있습니다. 이 협업은 웨이모의 기술과 우버의 확립된 플랫폼을 결합하여 교통 수단을 보다 저렴하고 지속 가능하며 접근 가능하게 만드는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다.

Uber et Waymo ont lancé un partenariat à Austin, Texas, permettant aux passagers d'être jumelés avec les véhicules autonomes de Waymo via l'application Uber. Le service couvre 37 miles carrés d'Austin, de Hyde Park au centre-ville en passant par Montopolis, avec des projets d'expansion future.

Les clients demandant UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort ou Uber Comfort Electric peuvent être jumelés avec un véhicule Jaguar I-PACE entièrement autonome et entièrement électrique de Waymo sans coût supplémentaire. Les passagers peuvent s'inscrire via les paramètres de Préférences de Trajet pour augmenter leurs chances d'être jumelés avec un véhicule Waymo.

Le partenariat met l'accent sur la sécurité avec un support client 24/7 et l'expérience étendue de Waymo en conduite autonome. Le service s'étendra ensuite à Atlanta, où des employés testent déjà des trajets autonomes. Cette collaboration vise à rendre le transport plus abordable, durable et accessible tout en combinant la technologie de Waymo avec la plateforme établie d'Uber.

Uber und Waymo haben eine Partnerschaft in Austin, Texas, gestartet, die es Fahrgästen ermöglicht, über die Uber-App mit den autonomen Fahrzeugen von Waymo verbunden zu werden. Der Service deckt 37 Quadratmeilen von Austin ab, von Hyde Park über die Innenstadt bis nach Montopolis, mit Plänen für zukünftige Erweiterungen.

Kunden, die UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort oder Uber Comfort Electric anfordern, können ohne zusätzliche Kosten mit einem vollautonomen, vollelektrischen Jaguar I-PACE Fahrzeug von Waymo verbunden werden. Fahrgäste können in ihren Reisepräferenzen diese Möglichkeit aktivieren, um die Chancen auf ein Matching mit einem Waymo-Fahrzeug zu erhöhen.

Die Partnerschaft betont die Sicherheit mit 24/7-Kundenservice und Waymos umfangreicher Erfahrung im autonomen Fahren. Der Service wird als nächstes nach Atlanta expandieren, wo Mitarbeiter bereits autonome Fahrten testen. Diese Zusammenarbeit zielt darauf ab, den Transport erschwinglicher, nachhaltiger und zugänglicher zu machen, indem die Technologie von Waymo mit der etablierten Plattform von Uber kombiniert wird.

Positive
  • Partnership expands autonomous vehicle service coverage to 37 square miles in Austin
  • No additional cost for customers using autonomous vehicles
  • Integration with multiple Uber service tiers
  • Planned expansion to Atlanta market
  • All-electric vehicle fleet supporting sustainability goals
Negative
  • initial coverage area in Austin
  • Service restricted to specific Uber ride types only
  • Riders must opt-in to use the service

Insights

Uber's partnership with Waymo represents a calculated strategic maneuver in the autonomous vehicle space. Rather than developing proprietary self-driving technology at enormous R&D expense, Uber has wisely leveraged Waymo's proven autonomous system with its tens of millions of miles of real-world driving experience.

The opt-in model for Austin riders is particularly shrewd - it allows Uber to gather important user experience data while respecting consumer choice. This addresses the psychological barrier many consumers still have toward autonomous vehicles without forcing adoption. The zero additional cost structure eliminates price as an adoption barrier.

What's most significant is the deep integration with Uber's app - riders can unlock vehicles and manage trips through familiar interfaces. This positions autonomous rides as an evolution of existing services rather than a revolutionary departure, potentially accelerating user acceptance.

The 37-square-mile operating area indicates this remains a controlled experiment rather than full deployment. This footprint allows meaningful testing while constraining operational complexity and regulatory challenges. The planned expansion to Atlanta suggests sufficient confidence in the Austin implementation.

The exclusivity arrangement in Austin gives Uber a competitive edge over rivals like Lyft in the autonomous transition. By positioning itself as Waymo's primary ride-hailing partner, Uber creates a unique value proposition that competitors cannot immediately replicate.

This partnership demonstrates Uber's pragmatic approach to autonomous vehicle integration. Rather than viewing autonomous technology as a driver replacement threat, Uber is positioning it as complementary, stating AVs and drivers will work "side by side" to improve transportation accessibility.

The implementation strategy reveals careful market testing. By limiting deployment to specific geographic zones and service tiers (UberX, Green, Comfort, Comfort Electric), Uber maintains operational control while gathering important market data. The Austin market selection is noteworthy - technologically progressive yet more regulatorily permissive than coastal tech hubs.

What's particularly significant is the strategic pivot from Uber's earlier autonomous approach. After divesting its challenging internal AV development unit in 2020, Uber has adopted a partnership model that offers technological advancement without the massive capital expenditure and technological risk of in-house development.

The all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle selection also aligns with Uber's sustainability commitments while positioning autonomous rides as premium experiences. This helps establish autonomous vehicles as desirable rather than merely functional alternatives.

For the broader ride-sharing ecosystem, this creates a three-tiered model: traditional driver-based service, hybrid transitional implementation (current phase), and potentially fully autonomous zones in the future. This graduated approach allows Uber to evolve its business model incrementally rather than requiring disruptive transformation.

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Starting today, Austin riders can be matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle (AV) on the Uber app, making your next trip even more special.

With Waymo’s technology and Uber’s proven platform, we’re excited to introduce our customers to a future of transportation that is increasingly electric and autonomous.

In Austin, Waymo rides will only be available on the Uber app. Here’s what you can expect when matched with a Waymo vehicle on Uber:

  • Request your ride, opt in for a Waymo: Starting today, riders who request an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric could be matched with a Waymo fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle – at no additional cost. Before a nearby Waymo vehicle is sent your way, you’ll have the option to accept or switch to a non-AV ride.
  • Familiar app, new experience: Once the Waymo arrives, riders can unlock the vehicle, open the trunk, and start the trip – all from their familiar Uber app. If assistance is needed at any time, riders will have access to 24/7 customer support, accessible in both the Uber app and inside the Waymo vehicle.
  • Safety is a top priority: Safety is at the heart of what we do, so any AV on the Uber network must meet all our Safety Guidelines. Waymo is already improving road safety in the cities in which it operates, and their vehicles have tens of millions of miles of real-world driving experience navigating complex road conditions using the Waymo Driver’s suite of sensors.
  • Update your Ride Preferences: Uber customers in Austin who are excited about riding in a Waymo vehicle can boost their chances of getting matched by opting in via the Ride Preferences section of their Uber app under Settings.
  • Operating area: At launch, riders can travel across 37 square miles of Austin – from Hyde Park, to Downtown, to Montopolis – with plans to expand in the future.

Atlanta is up next! Employees are already taking fully autonomous trips with Waymo in the city, a key step as we prepare to offer Waymo rides to the public there – only on Uber.

At Uber, we’re reimagining how the world moves and building a future where autonomous vehicles and drivers work side by side to help make transportation more affordable, sustainable, and accessible for all.

About Uber

Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 58 billion trips later, we’re building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.

About Waymo

Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with the mission to be the most trusted driver. Since our start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has focused on building the Waymo Driver—The World's Most Experienced Driver™—to improve everyone's access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. Waymo One, our fully autonomous ride-hailing service, serves hundreds of thousands of trips each week to riders in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin. The Waymo Driver has autonomously driven tens of millions of miles on public roads and tens of billions in simulation across 13+ U.S. states.

For more: www.waymo.com.

Uber

press@uber.com

Waymo

press@waymo.com

Source: Uber Technologies, Inc.

FAQ

How much extra does it cost to ride in a Waymo autonomous vehicle on Uber in Austin?

There is no additional cost when matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle through the Uber app in Austin.

What is the coverage area for Waymo vehicles on UBER in Austin?

The service covers 37 square miles across Austin, including Hyde Park, Downtown, and Montopolis areas.

Which Uber services can be matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle?

UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, and Uber Comfort Electric rides can be matched with Waymo vehicles.

What type of vehicle does Waymo use for autonomous rides on UBER?

Waymo uses fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles for their service on Uber.

Which city will get Waymo autonomous rides on UBER next after Austin?

Atlanta will be the next city to receive Waymo autonomous rides through the Uber platform.

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