Uber Opens Up Its Robotaxi Waitlist in Atlanta

Uber riders in Atlanta will soon have the option to hail a very futuristic ride. The company said Tuesday it’s opening up its interest list for people who want to hop in a Waymo driverless vehicle. Joining the list will increase someone’s chances of being matched with a robotaxi when the service launches in Atlanta this summer. 

This is the latest expansion of Uber and Waymo’s partnership. The companies have already teamed up in Phoenix, where riders can hail a robotaxi from the Uber app and get their Uber Eats meal delivered by an autonomous car. Uber began offering Waymo rides in Austin, Texas, in March after opening up an interest list there the month before. 

In the lead-up to the Atlanta launch, Waymo allowed employees to hail a robotaxi in the city. Now, members of the general public will have the chance to climb aboard too.

Unlike other cities where Waymo operates, like San Francisco and Los Angeles, interested riders in Austin and Atlanta won’t need to download the separate Waymo One app. Rather, they can only summon the robotaxi via the Uber app. This can help lower the barrier to entry and entice more people to try the robotaxi. (In Phoenix, riders can choose between using the Waymo One or Uber app to hitch a ride.)

To join the Atlanta interest list, ensure the Uber app is up-to-date, then go to Account > Settings, and find Autonomous vehicles under the Ride Preferences menu. Then click Join interest list.

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Riders who join the interest list may be tapped to ride with Waymo before the public launch. They’ll be notified in-app and via email if selected. After their first Waymo trip, customers will get up to $10 in Uber Cash, which expires after 30 days. They’ll also be encouraged to give feedback on their autonomous ride.

The service will launch across 65 square miles of Atlanta, with plans for future expansions, Uber says. Customers will pay the same rates they would for an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric ride, and will see upfront pricing in the app. They can unlock the vehicle and start the trip all from the Uber app.

In my experience, hailing a Waymo in San Francisco via the Waymo One app tends to be pricier than calling a human-driven Uber. Having the option to summon a robotaxi via a single app (that’s probably already on your phone) and paying the same price you would for a standard Uber ride could encourage more people to step outside their comfort zone. And while seeing a steering wheel turn by itself for the first time can be unsetting, you quickly get used to it.

As part of the Uber-Waymo partnership, Uber will manage tasks like vehicle cleaning and repair, while “Waymo will continue to be responsible for the testing and operation of the Waymo Driver, including roadside assistance and certain rider support functions,” the companies have said. 

Along with Waymo, Uber is partnering with 13 other autonomous vehicle companies. For years, the ride-hailing company worked on developing its own self-driving technology but sold off that operation to Aurora in 2020. It now appears focused on bolstering its collaboration with companies like Waymo — which was once seen as a fierce competitor.

A rapidly growing, competitive space

The self-driving scene is relatively nascent, with Waymo undoubtedly leading the charge. Amazon-owned Zoox recently announced its expansion into Los Angeles and currently conducts testing in many of the same cities as Waymo. Startups like Avride, Nuro and May Mobility are also part of the self-driving race. 

Other companies haven’t fared as well. Late last year, General Motors pulled the plug on its Cruise robotaxi venture, deciding to focus instead on advanced driver assistance technology. Even Apple scrapped its plans for a self-driving car.

The biggest challenges for self-driving companies include high costs and regulatory hurdles. Cruise was suspended indefinitely in 2023 after one of its vehicles in San Francisco struck a pedestrian. Waymo and Zoox have also been involved in a range of incidents over the years.

Still, the companies have maintained the safety of their respective vehicles and technology — especially compared with human drivers. A Waymo data hub published in September states that after driving over 22 million miles, its self-driving tech was involved in “73% fewer injury-causing crashes and 48% fewer police-reported crashes compared to human drivers.”  And in an open letter last year, Zoox’s chief safety innovation officer noted that, “Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 94% of crashes are caused by human choice or error.”

To assuage any nerves, Uber says Waymo riders can access human support 24/7 via the Uber app and from inside the vehicle (screens in the front and back let you quickly summon customer support).

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