Observed Signal · Nov 4, 2026 · Partnership Change · Source: techcrunch · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Waymo to End Uber Exclusivity in Austin, Atlanta by 2028
Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana confirmed to Bloomberg that the company will end its exclusivity agreement with Uber in Austin and Atlanta starting January 2028. This will allow Waymo to offer rides directly through its own app in those markets, similar to its operations elsewhere. Uber confirmed it will continue to host Waymo robotaxis on its app as long as both parties agree, but the change sets up direct competition. Mawakana said the partnership was initially pursued for scale, but the rider experience has been inconsistent. The move follows earlier reports that Waymo was considering exiting the Uber deal, which was set to expire in May 2028.
Waymo's decision to end exclusivity with Uber in key markets signals a strategic shift in autonomous vehicle ride-hailing partnerships, impacting the mobility and advertising ecosystem as companies vie for direct consumer relationships.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Waymo will end its exclusivity agreement with Uber in Austin and Atlanta starting January 2028.
- Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana made the announcement in a Bloomberg report published on November 4, 2026.
- Uber will continue to host Waymo robotaxis on its app as long as both parties agree.
- The original Uber-Waymo deal was set to expire in May 2028.
- Mawakana described the rider experience of hailing a Waymo via Uber as a 'little bit of a crapshoot'.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“Waymo will end its exclusivity with Uber in the Austin and Atlanta markets starting in January 2028.”
“Uber confirmed to TechCrunch Wednesday that it still plans to host Waymo robotaxis on its app for as long as the two companies agree.”
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to Four New Cities
Waymo expanded its robotaxi service to "select riders" in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, bringing its U.S. footprint to 10 cities. Invitations will roll out via the Waymo app, with general availability in these markets targeted by the end of 2026. The company will deploy its fifth-generation driver system in Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in the newly launched markets; Waymo has also been testing a sixth-generation driver on Geely-built Ojai cars for employees and guests in California. Waymo reported raising a $16 billion funding round that valued the company at $126 billion and said it operates just over 3,000 autonomous vehicles. Regulators have opened investigations into Waymo vehicle behavior around schools and buses, and the company reported providing more than 400,000 paid trips per week and over 20 million lifetime trips.
Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to Ten U.S. Cities!
Waymo has opened its robotaxi service to the public in four additional U.S. cities — Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando — bringing its footprint to ten U.S. cities. The company will invite select riders via the Waymo app and scale availability over time, starting with dozens of vehicles in each new market. Waymo currently operates about 3,000 robotaxis across six markets and reported more than 400,000 rides per week in its last public update; it aims to exceed one million rides per week by year-end. The company recently raised an additional $16 billion in a funding round that values it at $126 billion. Regulators including the NHTSA and NTSB are investigating safety incidents involving Waymo vehicles.
Waymo Launches Next-Gen Robotaxis to Strengthen U.S. Dominance
Waymo has begun deploying its sixth-generation Waymo Driver in Ojai robotaxis, initially offering employee rides in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles with plans to expand to public riders later this year. The new driver uses more cost-effective components, upgraded lidar and radar, a 17-megapixel imager that reduces the number of required cameras, and new in-house algorithms and integrated cleaning systems to improve performance in rain and snow. Waymo installs its autonomous stack into base vehicles supplied by Geely/Zeekr and says it will not share its driving technology, sensor data, or rider information with the automaker. The company operates in six U.S. markets today, plans major U.S. and international expansions in 2026, reported a $16 billion funding round led by Alphabet valuing Waymo at $126 billion, and faces some U.S. political scrutiny over its use of Chinese-made vehicles.
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