Waymo will offer autonomous ride-hailing service and delivery through Uber Eats in an operating area of 180 square miles around Phoenix.
On Tuesday, May 23, Alphabet subsidiary Waymo announced that it will be introduced soon UberRide-hailing and delivery services in the Phoenix, Arizona, metropolitan area.
This development comes after Waymo’s multi-year partnership with Uber. Later this year, Waymo will offer autonomous ride-hailing service and delivery through Uber Eats in an operating area of 180 square miles around Phoenix. Waymo also calls it “the world’s largest fully autonomous service area”.
This development comes within two months of Waymo announcing that it will be making the Waymo One ride-hailing fleet completely electric. Additionally, the company also announced its plans to expand vehicle testing to Austin, Texas. Commenting on the development, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said:
“Uber provides access to a global and trusted marketplace for mobility, delivery and freight. Fully autonomous driving is increasingly becoming a part of everyday life, and we are excited to bring Waymo’s incredible technology to the Uber platform.
Uber and Waymo: Rivals in the Robotaxi Space
Previously, both Uber and Waymo were competing with each other in the robotaxi space. In 2018, the two companies settled a case over trade secrets for $245 million after Waymo accused Uber of poaching one of its chief engineers.
Later, Uber also agreed not to use Waymo’s proprietary information in its operations. Later in 2020, Uber sold its autonomous car unit to Aurora for $4 billion. Uber later shifted gears to focus on sure bets like ride-hailing and food delivery, and prioritize profitability in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking on the recent development, Waymo Co-CEO Takedara Mawakana said:
“We are excited to offer another way for people to experience the exhilarating and life-saving benefits of full autonomy. Uber has long been a leader in human-powered ridesharing, and thanks to our pioneering technology and their customer network The addition of an all-electric fleet gives Waymo an opportunity to reach even more people.
Uber is forging significant partnerships with a number of partners and focusing heavily on autonomous vehicles. Last December 2022, Uber announced Its partnership with Motional, a Hyundai-Aptiv joint venture focused on commercializing self-driving technology, to launch a public autonomous ride-hailing service in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The service will initially be offered on UberX and Uber Comfort Electric during the day, with motivational security personnel deployed in the self-driving cars. However, the company plans to launch fully autonomous service by next year.
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