Key Takeaways
- Uber plans to add Waymo driverless vehicles in Austin and Atlanta next year.
- Uber said the number of vehicles in those two cities will “grow to hundreds over time.”
- The ride-share provider already offers Waymo rides in Phoenix.
Uber Technologies (UBER) shares jumped Friday after the ride-share provider said it would expand its partnership with Alphabet-owned (GOOGL) autonomous vehicle technology firm Waymo to add more driverless car rides.
Uber said the service will be offered in Austin, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia beginning early next year. The company said it will “manage and dispatch a fleet of Waymo’s fully autonomous, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles that will grow to hundreds over time.” Uber already provides driverless pickups in Phoenix, Arizona.
Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said the firm has been “delighted at the positive feedback” from riders, and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi added that now more customers will be able to experience “that mobility magic.”
Under the agreement, Uber will be responsible for fleet management services, such as cleaning, repair, and other general depot operations. Waymo will continue to handle testing and operation of the technology, including roadside assistance and some rider support functions.
Uber shares were up 5% at $71.55 in intraday trading Friday following the news and have climbed over 16% so far this year. Alphabet shares were up about 1.5% at $156.97 Friday and have gained more than 12% since the start of 2024.
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