Uber, Waymo robotaxi service opens to passengers in Atlanta

Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 11:00 am

Robotaxis Roll Out in Atlanta, Expanding Uber-Waymo Partnership

Atlanta residents can now hail a ride in a driverless robotaxi through the Uber app, thanks to a partnership between Uber and Alphabet's Waymo. This expansion follows the launch of the service in Austin, Texas, earlier this year. The Waymo robotaxis, utilizing the Waymo Driver technology, will operate within a 65-square-mile area of Atlanta, using battery-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs.

The Waymo-Uber collaboration allows passengers to access Waymo's driverless technology directly through the familiar Uber platform. Unlike Tesla's pilot robotaxi service, which is currently limited to invitees in Austin, Waymo's Atlanta service is open to the public. Waymo's robotaxis, unlike Tesla's, operate without a human supervisor on board.

Tesla, once a leader in the autonomous vehicle space, is now competing to catch up with Waymo and other companies, including Baidu's Apollo Go and WeRide. Tesla's robotaxi service in Austin, using Model Y SUVs, is currently in a pilot phase, operating only during daylight hours within a geofenced area and including a human valet for safety.

Waymo's robotaxis utilize advanced lidar and radar sensors, which are not currently employed in Tesla's vehicles. In Atlanta and Austin, Waymo rides are exclusively available through the Uber app. However, in San Francisco and Los Angeles, passengers can book rides directly through the Waymo One app. The partnership between Uber and Waymo currently focuses solely on passenger transportation and does not extend to Uber Eats deliveries.

BNN's Perspective: The expansion of robotaxi services, particularly through established platforms like Uber, represents a significant step towards the broader adoption of autonomous vehicles. While challenges remain, the competition between companies like Waymo and Tesla is driving innovation and potentially lowering costs, which could ultimately benefit consumers. The safety and regulatory landscape will be crucial in determining the long-term success of these ventures.

Keywords: robotaxi, Waymo, Uber, Atlanta, autonomous vehicles, driverless, Tesla, Austin, lidar, radar, self-driving cars, technology, partnership, transportation

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