Waymo is reportedly exploring a path to run its robotaxi service more independently from Uber, signaling a new phase in the autonomous ride-hailing market. According to the Financial Times, the Alphabet-owned company is considering offering rides through its own app in Austin and Atlanta, while still keeping the current Uber arrangement active for a period.
Uber has said its agreement with Waymo in those cities is set to end in May 2028, while Waymo has already informed the company that it plans to expand its own app-based service there starting in January 2028. The two companies also recently ended their partnership in Phoenix, marking a gradual reshaping of their collaboration.
The shift comes after months of growing strategic distance between the two firms. Uber executives have publicly questioned some robotaxi behaviors in complex traffic situations, while Waymo has increasingly found itself on the opposite side of broader debates over autonomous vehicle policy and regulation.
As robotaxis move closer to mainstream adoption, this kind of realignment could help define how autonomous mobility platforms compete, collaborate, and scale in the years ahead.
