Uber is inviting customers in Atlanta to join a waitlist for its upcoming robotaxi service with Waymo, the Alphabet-owned self-driving car unit, as the companies prepare to launch autonomous rides in the city this summer.
The move marks the next phase of the “Waymo on Uber” partnership, which began rolling out in Austin earlier this year. In a joint statement on Tuesday, the companies confirmed that users in Atlanta will soon be able to hail Waymo’s fleet of autonomous Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles through the Uber app.
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The new service area will initially span 65 square miles, covering major neighborhoods including Downtown, Buckhead, and Capitol View. Uber customers who join the interest list may gain early access to the service ahead of its public launch, and will receive updates regarding availability and expansion plans.
The companies’ responsibilities in the partnership are clearly divided. Uber handles customer access through its app, along with maintenance, charging, and cleaning of the vehicles, while Waymo manages the self-driving technology and autonomous operations, including rider support.
See also: Waymo Launches Fully Autonomous Ride Service in Austin via Uber App
“Customers who sign up may receive early access to Waymo rides before they’re available to the public,” the companies said.
The collaboration represents a significant shift in the companies’ relationship, following a high-profile legal dispute in 2018 over trade secrets that ended in a settlement. Since then, Waymo has expanded its commercial robotaxi services to Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
See also: Waymo Plans to Launch Fully Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service in Washington, D.C. in 2026
Uber, which divested its in-house autonomous unit in 2020, has since partnered with multiple autonomous vehicle developers for ride-hailing and delivery services, including a December 2023 launch with WeRide in Abu Dhabi.
To join the interest list, Uber users in Atlanta can update their app, navigate to “Account” > “Settings” > “Ride Preferences,” and select the autonomous vehicle option to register interest.