Uber, Waymo robotaxi service opens to passengers in Atlanta

Uber and Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, have officially launched their robotaxi service for passengers in Atlanta, marking a significant step in their ongoing partnership. This innovative service is now accessible through the Uber app, covering an extensive area of approximately 65 square miles around the city. However, the robotaxis are currently restricted from operating on highways or providing rides to the airport. The vehicles utilized in this service are battery electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs, equipped with Waymo's advanced driverless technology, known as the Waymo Driver. This partnership, which was announced in September, aims to expand Waymo One's presence to Austin, Texas, in addition to Atlanta. In Austin, the service was launched in March, preceding Tesla's own robotaxi initiative. Tesla, headquartered in Austin, has recently introduced a pilot robotaxi service that operates only during daylight hours in a designated geofenced area. These vehicles, Model Y SUVs, are outfitted with Tesla's latest autonomous technology and are accompanied by a human valet in the front seat for safety. In contrast, Waymo's robotaxis in both Austin and Atlanta operate completely unmanned, relying on sophisticated lidar and radar sensors—technologies that are presently absent in Tesla's offerings. While Tesla was once considered a leader in the driverless vehicle sector, it now faces stiff competition from Waymo and other international players like Baidu's Apollo Go and WeRide, which also collaborates with Uber. In Atlanta and Austin, passengers can access Waymo rides exclusively through the Uber app, while in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, bookings are made via the Waymo One app. It's worth noting that the Waymo-Uber collaboration is focused solely on passenger transport, without extending to Uber Eats deliveries.