Waymo is reportedly considering ending its partnership with Uber, which currently allows Uber to offer Waymo’s robotaxi services in Austin and Atlanta. According to the Financial Times, Waymo has informed Uber it plans to launch robotaxis on its own app in these cities starting January 2028. Uber confirmed to TechCrunch that the contract governing the collaboration in these markets is set to expire in May 2028.

This development follows an earlier separation between the two companies in Phoenix earlier this year, as first reported by TechCrunch. The split in Phoenix and the forthcoming changes in Austin and Atlanta come amid growing tensions between Waymo and Uber. Uber’s Chief Technology Officer, Praveen Neppalli, publicly criticized the behavior of Waymo’s robotaxis, describing one incident as unsafe and alarming. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi also raised concerns about the robotaxis’ responses in school zones and emergencies, indirectly pointing to Waymo’s technology.

In addition to operational disagreements, the two companies have clashed over regulatory approaches surrounding autonomous vehicle deployment. Waymo has taken opposing positions to Uber in recent policy battles over robotaxi regulations, complicating the relationship further. These tensions paint a picture of a strategic divergence in how each company envisions the future of robo-taxi services.

With the contract for their collaboration ending in 2028 and signs pointing to an unraveling of the partnership, Waymo seems poised to pursue greater independence by offering its robotaxis directly to customers. This shift underscores how competitive and complex the autonomous vehicle market has become, even among major players who once cooperated closely. Both companies have yet to make official public comments following these reports.