After Uber and Waymo ended their collaboration in Phoenix earlier this year, many observers speculated about the future of their relationship. However, during a recent earnings call, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi denied any signs of a breakup. He described the partnership with Waymo as still strong, despite conflicting signals in the past.
Partnership in Austin and Atlanta
Khosrowshahi highlighted that Uber and Waymo are still working together in Austin and Atlanta. He expressed confidence that the collaboration in those cities will continue into the next year.
“It’s a terrific product, and the on-the-ground partnership continues to be very strong.”
Diversifying Partnerships
While Khosrowshahi insists on the strength of the Uber-Waymo partnership, there are clear signs the relationship might be evolving. Uber has also started to work with a range of other autonomous vehicle (AV) companies, such as Zoox, Wayve, Avride, Nuro, Motional, and Waabi.
Khosrowshahi explained that Uber is aiming to avoid over-dependence on a single partner. “We’re absolutely seeing a plethora of newer players in the AV ecosystem.”
Uber has committed to investing up to $10 billion in developing its robotaxi business. Although Waymo remains the only company operating at a large scale, Uber is diversifying its partnerships to create a competitive edge and reduce risk.
Robotaxi Still a Small Part of Business
Khosrowshahi downplayed the role of robotaxi services in Uber’s current operations, noting that they make up less than 0.5 percent of the company’s total trip volume. “Physical AI is moving at a slower pace than large-language models like ChatGPT,” he added, highlighting the current limitations of real-world AI.
He also suggested that Uber has sufficient time to develop other partnerships and establish a competitive environment with other AV companies.
Despite their current cooperation, Uber and Waymo are not just partners; they are also competitors. Initial data suggests that Waymo is capturing a share of the ride-hailing market that could otherwise go to Uber and Lyft. While the two companies currently need each other, particularly as robotaxi technology is still in its early stages, the long-term future of their partnership remains unclear.
Khosrowshahi’s remarks reflect Uber’s cautious approach. The company is positioning itself to adapt as the autonomous vehicle landscape evolves. By cultivating multiple partnerships, Uber is ensuring it remains competitive even as Waymo continues to expand its presence.
For instance, Uber’s CTO once commented on a “scary Waymo moment,” and an Uber white paper emphasized a hybrid model of rides that combines human drivers and autonomous vehicles. In addition, the companies recently found themselves on opposite sides of a proposed bill in Washington, D.C., which would regulate robotaxi services. Khosrowshahi did not directly address those incidents during the call.
Nevertheless, he reaffirmed the importance of Waymo in Uber’s AV plans. “Waymo is a very important partner of ours,” he said. While acknowledging the presence of other AV players, he stressed that the partnership remains a key component of Uber’s strategy in the short and medium term.