Uber has announced that the autonomous vehicle (AV) “Waymo” would be available on the Uber app in Austin, Texas, effective March 4. The company said in a press release that riders who request an UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, or Uber Comfort Electric could be matched with a Waymo fully autonomous all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicle at no additional cost.
Once they are matched, the rider can either choose to go ahead with the AV, or opt for a non-AV ride. Once the Waymo arrives, riders can unlock the vehicle, open the trunk, and start the trip using the Uber app. If assistance is needed at any time, riders will have access to 24/7 customer support, accessible in both the Uber app and inside the Waymo vehicle.
READ: Pulse plans to test and integrate Gemini 2.0 for document processing (February 7, 2025)
Waymo, formerly known as the “Google Self-Driving Car Project”, entered into a partnership with Uber two years ago. The former rivals joined forces in an attempt to make the transition to autonomous vehicles a reality.
As of now, Waymo only operates within a 37-square-mile area in Austin, which includes Hyde Park, Downtown, Montopolis, and other “popular destinations.” The trip will need to originate and end within that service area in order to qualify for Waymo, according to the company’s statement. Waymo also doesn’t operate on highways yet, so the route is said to only comprise of local streets.
Uber addressed the growing safety concerns, saying “Safety is at the heart of what we do, so any AV on the Uber network must meet all our Safety Guidelines. Waymo is already improving road safety in the cities in which it operates, and their vehicles have tens of millions of miles of real-world driving experience navigating complex road conditions using the Waymo Driver’s Suite of sensors.”
READ: Apple eager to defend Google during antitrust trial (December 26, 2024)
Uber customers who are keen on trying Waymo out have the option to “opt in,” via the “ride preferences.” Along with announcing Waymo’s launch, Uber also noted that Atlanta will be the next destination for the Uber-Waymo service to expand to, with employees currently still testing out routes in the city.
While this is a significant step forward for the future of self-driving cars, most experts agree that the business will take a long time to grow. Concerns about safety, and liability in case of accidents also still remain.