Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER) saw its stock gain 2.75% in premarket trading on Tuesday, following the announcement that it has expanded its autonomous ride services to Atlanta in collaboration with Waymo.
From today onward, residents of Atlanta can request a Waymo autonomous vehicle directly through the Uber app. This new service builds on the existing partnership already active in Austin. Riders selecting UberX, Comfort, or Comfort Electric options may be paired with a fully autonomous, all-electric Jaguar I-PACE operated by Waymo at no extra cost, with the flexibility to accept or switch to a traditional driver-led ride.
The initial coverage area for this service encompasses 65 square miles, including key neighborhoods such as Downtown, Buckhead, and Capitol View, with plans to broaden the service area in the future. Users who want to increase their chances of receiving a Waymo vehicle can opt in through the Ride Preferences settings within the app.
In Austin, where the collaboration has been running for some time, the Uber platform currently features 100 Waymo vehicles, with fleet growth expected across both cities. Uber reports that customers in Austin have given their Waymo rides an average rating of 4.9 stars.
Both Uber and Waymo highlighted safety as a core focus, pointing out that Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have completed tens of millions of miles on public roads without incident. Additionally, riders will have round-the-clock access to customer support via the Uber app and Waymo’s in-car interface.