Uber and Waymo start the countdown for Austin launch next month
With the Uber and Waymo robotaxi launch next month, users in Austin can sign up now for priority access to the new AVs.
On Wednesday, Uber announced the addition of an Interest List on the app. This feature lets users indicate whether they'd like to receive updates from Uber and "increase their chances of being matched with a Waymo autonomous vehicle at launch by opting into the AV preference." The ride-hailing app also unveiled a co-branded Uber x Waymo vehicle, signaling their partnership, which brings Waymo autonomous vehicles exclusively to the Uber fleet.
In its Q4 2024 earnings call on Wednesday morning, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said Uber plans to launch with Waymo "in Austin next month and Atlanta this summer." Uber has been investing heavily in the robotaxi market in the past few years. "I am more confident than ever that Uber is uniquely positioned to capture the $1 trillion+ opportunity that autonomy will unlock in the US alone," said Khosrowshahi about Uber's opportunities in the AV industry.
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To date, Uber has partnered with 14 AV companies, which include manufacturers of consumer-facing AVs, sidewalk delivery robots, and autonomous freight trucks.
Soon, Austin residents calling an Uber might see a driverless car pulling up to greet them. Waymo Ubers will initially cover 37 square miles within Austin and expand coverage in the future. Pricing for Waymo AVs is the same rate as a traditional Uber (UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric), and when it arrives, you can unlock the vehicle with the Uber app and hop in.
To sign up for the Interest List, make sure you have the most up-to-date version of the Uber app. Then, go to Account > Settings > Ride Preferences > Autonomous vehicles > Join interest list.
Topics Self-Driving Cars Uber
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
