Uber and Alphabet’s Waymo – partners in the race to dominate the self-driving industry – are rapidly expanding operations and working to attract riders ahead of their Atlanta launch this summer.
Uber opened an “interest list” on Tuesday, so local riders can boost their chances of being matched with a Waymo vehicle when the service rolls out. While Uber hasn’t announced an exact launch date, Atlanta will be the second city to feature the co-branded, fully autonomous, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles.
The service first launched in Austin in March. Since then, Uber said the “vast majority” of customers in the area have opted to ride in a Waymo autonomous vehicle when they had the opportunity.
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A growing list of companies, including many heavy hitters in the auto industry, are racing to make autonomous driving a reality by investing heavily in developing their own self-driving technology. But as the majority of companies heavily invested in their own operations, Uber dumped its program for an entirely new strategy.
In 2020, it sold its autonomous vehicle research division, Uber Advanced Technologies Group, to self-driving car startup Aurora and created partnerships with more than a dozen autonomous vehicle partners, including Waymo, Volvo, Cartken and Nuro, to bring the technology to market and co-brand their efforts. To date, the company has 14 autonomous vehicle partners. It partnered with Waymo in 2022.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UBER | UBER TECHNOLOGIES INC. | 74.02 | +0.92 | +1.26% |
Uber also has autonomous delivery programs available in 11 cities with six partners.
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Its rideshare rival Lyft also set its sights on integrating autonomous vehicles into its ride-hailing platform. The company teamed up with a technology company known as May Mobility to launch a fleet of autonomous Toyota Sienna minivans in Atlanta this year. The goal is to scale the partnership over time across multiple markets.
In 2026, Lyft is launching autonomous driving in Dallas with Mobileye and Marubeni.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LYFT | LYFT INC. | 10.89 | +0.01 | +0.09% |
Atlanta riders who want to experience fully autonomous Waymo rides can join the interest list to get updates from Uber. Select riders who join the Interest List may also get access to Waymo rides ahead of the public launch.
How to get on Uber’s interest list
- Riders will first need to update their app to join the list. Once updated, riders will need to go into the Ride Preferences section under account settings. They will be able to join the interest list.
- Riders that have been selected will be notified in their app and through email. Those riders will also be encouraged to share their feedback on their ride.
What to expect when it launches
- The Uber x Waymo co-branded vehicles will drive customers across 65 square miles of Atlanta – from Downtown to Buckhead to Capitol View when it first launches. The company plans to expand the operating territory.
- Riders will pay the same rates as if they were taking an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric. They will also see the price upfront in the app.
- When the car arrives, riders will be able to unlock the vehicle and start the trip from their Uber app.
- There is 24/7 human support available for riders in the Uber app and inside the Waymo vehicle.
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