Uber and Waymo to end exclusivity arrangement in Atlanta and Austin

Uber and Alphabet’s Waymo are ending their exclusivity arrangement for robotaxi access in Atlanta and Austin, with Waymo planning to launch its own app in both cities in January 2028 while still operating on Uber through at least May 2028. The move signals Waymo’s growing confidence in its standalone demand as it expands to nine other U.S. markets and tests additional cities. For Uber, the change could increase near-term competition on its platform but also opens the door to adding other autonomous vehicle partners. The article notes Uber shares fell more than 4% on the news, highlighting investor concern that the partnership’s economics and exclusivity benefits may weaken over time. The development also underscores a broader shift in the robotaxi industry toward multi-platform access and standalone ride-hailing apps.