Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has dismissed speculation that the company's partnership with Waymo is deteriorating, insisting the collaboration remains strong in Atlanta and Austin despite ending operations together in Phoenix earlier this year. Speaking during an earnings call, Khosrowshahi emphasized that Waymo continues to be a key partner, describing the on-the-ground relationship as "very strong" and confirming plans to keep operating in the two cities next year. He highlighted the quality of Waymo's robotaxi service while also noting Uber's strategy to diversify its autonomous vehicle partnerships, naming Zoox, Wayve, Avride, Nuro, Motional, and Waabi as other collaborators.
The comments come amid signs of strain, including a recent policy disagreement in Washington, DC, where Waymo supported a bill to legalize robotaxi services while Uber advocated for a hybrid model combining human-driven and autonomous rides. Uber's CTO also previously tweeted about a "scary Waymo moment," adding to doubts about the alliance. Khosrowshahi did not address these incidents directly but stressed the need to avoid overreliance on any single AV provider. He pointed out that robotaxi trips currently make up less than 0.5 percent of Uber's total ride volume, suggesting the technology is still in early stages. While Uber has committed to spending over $10 billion to expand its robotaxi business, Waymo remains the only partner operating at scale.
Khosrowshahi's emphasis on multiple AV partners contrasts with the reality that Waymo is the only one delivering at scale, raising questions about Uber's actual leverage in the relationship. His downplaying of robotaxi volume—less than 0.5 percent of trips—suggests Uber's autonomy ambitions are more aspirational than operational for now.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
