Robotaxi Partnership Ends
Waymo and Uber end Phoenix robotaxi partnership as autonomous vehicle competition intensifies globally
Anonymous
Key Points
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Waymo's Zeekr-built Ojai van is the latest robotaxi in Phoenix, and it costs roughly $75,000 less to produce per unit than the Jaguar I-PACE it replaces.
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Phoenix was the only market where Waymo operated robotaxis in both its own app and Uber’s app—a dual-track deployment that has now ended.
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The Phoenix pilot was intentionally limited, involving just over a dozen vehicles dedicated to the program.
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London is shaping up as a direct competition space, with Waymo planning its own London service while Uber partners with Wayve in the same market.
Waymo and Uber have ended their nearly three-year robotaxi partnership in Phoenix, Arizona. Waymo vehicles are no longer available through the Uber app, and Waymo has pulled those rides back into its own "Waymo One" service, according to Bloomberg and The Next Web.
Uber confirmed it will announce a new, unnamed autonomous-vehicle partner for Phoenix. The split ends the only market where Waymo operated robotaxis on two apps at once — and sets the stage for the two companies to compete head-to-head in London.
How a Three-Year Truce Quietly Fell Apart
The partnership launched in October 2023, covering 180 square miles of Phoenix. It began as a practical deal: Uber brought riders, Waymo brought the self-driving technology. The program involved just over a dozen Waymo vehicles dedicated to the Uber app, according to Crypto Briefing.
Cracks showed early this year. The Next Web reported that Waymo quietly stopped accepting new Uber rides in Phoenix as early as May 2026, with riders seeing a "not yet available" message. The food delivery piece had already ended a year earlier, in May 2025, when Waymo pivoted to a delivery deal with DoorDash instead.
Waymo Bets on Its Own App and Cheaper Vans
Waymo is now focused on growing its own "Waymo One" app. It is also adding transit rides through a partner called Via and deliveries through DoorDash. The company now runs more than 500,000 trips a week across 11 US cities, according to Zamin.
A big reason for the confidence: a new, cheaper robotaxi. Waymo's sixth-generation "Ojai" van — built by Chinese automaker Zeekr — costs about $75,000 less per vehicle to produce than the Jaguar I-PACE it replaces. It has 42% fewer sensors but adds a 17-megapixel camera and custom lidar that works in heavy rain. The base vehicles are assembled in Ningbo, China, then finished at Waymo's Mesa, Arizona plant, according to The Next Web.
Uber Plays the Field With Multiple AV Partners
Uber says Phoenix will still get autonomous rides — just not from Waymo. The company has not named its next Phoenix partner, but analysts point to Avride or Rivian as likely candidates. Uber already signed a 50,000-vehicle deal with Rivian for other markets, according to Bloomberg.
Uber's strategy is to stay platform-agnostic — partnering with many AV companies rather than betting on one. An Uber spokesperson called Phoenix "a testing ground" and said the company is "readying the launch of a separate autonomous vehicle partnership in the city." The lessons learned in Phoenix are already being applied in Austin and Atlanta.
London Is Where Waymo and Uber Collide Next
The friendlier chapter is closing fast. Waymo is planning its own London robotaxi service. At the same time, Uber launched an interest list for London riders in June 2026 — but its partner there is Wayve, a British AI startup, not Waymo, according to The Next Web.
Uber holds an equity stake in Wayve that could grow to $1.5 billion based on how the London rollout goes, according to Bloomberg. That financial bet signals how seriously Uber is treating its own AV future — one that no longer includes Waymo. The two companies that settled a bitter $244 million trade secrets lawsuit in 2018 are now headed for direct competition on two continents.
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