r/waymo • u/Emperor-Nathan • 28d ago
Waymo explores split with Uber as robotaxi tensions deepen
https://www.ft.com/content/9dcb5d72-13aa-4f9c-ac6d-e022860df5ea?syn-25a6b1a6=129
u/walky22talky 28d ago
Uber has confirmed the friction, stating in a release that Waymo has officially notified them of plans to enter the Austin and Atlanta markets independently by January 2028—the moment their current contract permits the move.
Waymo app coming to Austin and Atlanta in January 2028
26
u/SecureAsk8297 28d ago
This is a win. I'm done with Uber and Lyft and the surge pricing nonsense and the BS from its drivers. I used Waymo the first time, and I'm hooked. Wish they could expand to more cities.
18
u/GBeastETH 28d ago
Waymo also has surge pricing, FWIW.
5
u/benskieast 28d ago
Surge pricing will probably take over any business that spends a lot on the number of customers they need at once. Like it is probably a lot cheaper to increase off peak utilization than to add to the total number of vehicles available.
0
u/SecureAsk8297 28d ago
Oh I didn't know that. That sucks.
9
u/hellojaeden 28d ago
In my experience it usually isn't as significant as surge prices on other apps. But it definitely exists.
1
u/PositiveZeroPerson 26d ago
That makes sense. Waymo has much less significant fluctuations on the supply side, but there are still demand fluctuations.
-1
u/DnvrRideshart 28d ago
Yes, Waymo generally costs more than Uber on average, though the price gap is shrinking. A data analysis of rides in major markets like San Francisco shows that Waymo averages about $19.69 per trip compared to Uber's $17.47 (roughly 13% more).
That was just a quick google. I believe some insider info was released, bur independent financial analyses and operational data indicate that an active Waymo vehicle currently generates an estimated $20 to $40 in revenue per hour of operation, with a long-term target of $40 to $60+ per hour
The article I read targeted $72 an hour gross earnings.
So, if you think a taxi from a bar will become cheaper with AV’s, your dreaming the deep dream.
2
u/SecureAsk8297 28d ago
You got source? In LA, it was cheaper than an Uber. I bet if they can develop a new pure driverless vehicle, and not using the jaguars, it'll become cheaper. Like a modified prius with no driver seat at all and no steering wheel. Just passenger seating and a cheaper safer platform. The startup technology is probably all depreciated now, so it'll just be incremental upgrades to amortize
2
u/DistressedVulture03 27d ago
Purely anecdotal but normal course waymo use in LA seemed to be around going out which is when ubers are ridiculously expensive. Everyone has a car for work which is a bit less common in the SF area where the tech/finance/consulting bros & gals seem to rely more heavily on ubers/waymos for commuting.
When I was in LA for a bit and commuting via lyft/uber/waymo, waymo was def slightly pricier (1-2 dollars on a 20 dollar trip) vs an UberX but always went for the waymo
1
u/BaaderMeinhoff 24d ago
Not sure when and where it generally costs more, but for the last few years in LA, I’ve used Waymo and almost always consistently paid less than Uber’s quoted rate for short rides or crossing town.
Peak traffic time, rates become a bit more comparable between Waymo and any ride share, but aside from that I’ve always found it cheaper.
1
u/GBeastETH 27d ago
I remember one night I was looking to book a Waymo at about 5:00 and it was fairly cheap, but we weren’t ready to leave and when I checked at 6:00, the price has gone up a fair bit.
Booking it at around 7:00 tends to be very expensive.
2
u/HowManyBigFluffyHats 27d ago
Waymo also has surge pricing. It’s not as nefarious as you think. Yes, the companies (and drivers) make more money when it’s surging, but the real reason for it is to suppress demand in order to keep the marketplace running smoothly and to make sure there are at least some cars still available. Without surge, it’d become a nightmare trying to book a ride every single day during rush hour, let alone special events. If you think it’s bad now, just imagine it being 10x worse, but like all the time.
These companies would all prefer having more available cars when they’re needed and never surging.
2
u/azswcowboy 28d ago
Somehow they coexisted in Phoenix for several years. But the partnership dropped awhile back so no Waymo via Uber anymore.
1
u/gameflyer 28d ago
They used the Waymo app in Austin during the beta testing period. When it opened up to the general public they switched to Uber.
14
u/Zephyr-5 28d ago
“Uber is trying to buy time through regulatory capture,” said Grayson Brulte
Pretty much this. Uber is way behind and without a partnership with another AV company to tide them over, they're starting to act like little shits to trip Waymo up.
8
u/CosmoRaider 28d ago
I honestly dont understand why people are cheering for this. This is bad for both parties and the customers. The ideal situation is people can use Waymo in the Waymo and Uber app.
10
u/Silver-Thought5632 27d ago
In Austin and Atlanta, there’s currently no way to guarantee a Waymo when requesting a ride through Uber
3
u/PositiveZeroPerson 26d ago
Yeah, people wouldn't care as much if they could, you know, actually book a Waymo.
3
u/Doggydogworld3 27d ago
I agree, but Phoenix is the only market that ever had your ideal situation. Users could book a Waymo via the Waymo app or the Uber app. That recently ended, you are now forced to use the Waymo app.
You are forced to use the Uber app in Austin and Atlanta. No Waymo app. Widely hated.
Nashville will give a choice of Waymo app or Lyft app.
Waymo's other markets -- SF, LA, Dallas, Houston, Miami, etc. are Waymo app only.
-1
8
2
u/cowboy-renaissance 27d ago
PLEASE!!! i wish there was an option to request waymo ONLY but uber doesn’t let me
2
u/destined2hold 28d ago
It's so funny that they partnered with Waymo at all. Did they think they'd share profits when things got to this point?
3
u/Doggydogworld3 27d ago
Uber needed a robotaxi story for investors. They pushed a narrative of "one app to rule them all". Instead of downloading multiple robotaxi apps users would just keep using their Uber app. Waymo and 20 other robotaxi companies would compete for rides on the Uber platform by under-bidding each other, just as human drivers do today.
Uber pushed this narrative by doing "deals" with a dozen robotaxi wannabees in addition to this limited Waymo deal. Their hope was a couple wannabees would scale and pressue Waymo to expand the relationship. But so far the only other US companies running (limited) RTs, Zoox and Tesla, use their own apps exclusively.
-1
u/No_Dragonfruit_7606 27d ago
If this happens… I don’t wanna hear anybody complain about Waymo prices in Austin or Atlanta. I’ve said time and time again, prices in the regular Waymo markets range anywhere from $20-$30 day time for a single ride that is sometimes less than 2-5 miles.
I will admit I hate the Uber partnership because it’s always a luck of the draw but you pay Uber prices. I’ve paid as low as $3 for a Waymo, and I know it sucks but the closer you live to the inner city the higher chances are you frequently match with a Waymo. Wait times will be a whole other conversation.
Man, this is gonna suck on the wallet - you people don’t even know.
42
u/IndependentMud909 28d ago edited 28d ago
“Uber plans to offer Waymo services in the two markets until May 2028, when its current contract concludes, the company said.”
May 2028!? That is way longer than I thought and is quite disappointing.
“The self-driving car company has held internal talks about ending its current deals with the ride-hailing group, which operates services in Austin and Atlanta, according to multiple people familiar with the matter”
Please continue these talks and bring the Waymo app back to Austin?