Uber, Waymo End Phoenix Robotaxi Deal
Waymo robotaxis are no longer accessible through Uber’s ride-hailing app in Phoenix, Arizona, marking the conclusion of a nearly three-year collaboration in the city, according to reports.
Uber announced it is preparing to initiate a distinct partnership for autonomous vehicles in the city, but did not disclose the partner’s identity. The cars Uber employed for this “pilot” program are now part of its Phoenix fleet, accessible via its app.
Recently, Waymo users observed that the company’s cars were missing from Uber’s network. Waymo’s cars can still be accessed through Uber in cities like Austin and Atlanta. Uber said that both companies agreed to conclude the deployment in Phoenix as it was the scheduled end date.
The silent conclusion of this collaboration in Phoenix, which Waymo indicated occurred in May, arrives as the Alphabet-owned firm begins deploying its latest robotaxis — the Zeekr-produced van known as Ojai — onto the streets.
The Uber-Waymo partnership also seems to be fraying in certain areas, with both firms set to directly rival one another in London potentially as soon as this year.
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Nonetheless, both firms lauded the partnership in Phoenix as a successful starting point for their individual robotaxi initiatives, which have become progressively more ambitious since 2023.
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"This was an effective pilot that set the foundation for future growth and collaborations worldwide. After numerous trips with Uber, we have reintroduced these vehicles into our Phoenix fleet, where they will keep serving riders via Waymo, our public transit collaboration with Via, and delivery through DoorDash. We appreciate all the Uber riders who chose fully autonomous rides with us, and we anticipate further serving the Phoenix community,” says Waymo.
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“Phoenix served as our initial pilot market with Waymo, featuring a deliberately restricted rollout that involved slightly more than a dozen vehicles assigned to the initiative. That collaboration taught us a great deal, enabling us to swiftly grow in Austin and Atlanta, where numerous Waymo AVs are solely accessible on Uber, and our service area keeps broadening,” stated Uber.