[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.] Waymo explores options to leave Uber robotaxi deal Autonomous vehicle firm has notified Uber that it plans to operate independently in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028 Key Takeaways: - Waymo is exploring ending its robotaxi partnership with Uber and plans to operate independently in Austin and Atlanta starting in January 2028, the Financial Times reported. - Uber currently provides Waymo autonomous rides in those two markets and recently wound down the service in Phoenix. - Uber shares fell as much as 4.8% after the report. Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo is exploring options to exit its robotaxi partnership with Uber Technologies Inc., the latest relationship twist between two companies that have functioned as both rivals and partners. Uber currently offers rides in autonomous Waymo vehicles on its platform in two U.S. cities: Austin and Atlanta. An Uber spokesperson said Waymo has given notice that it plans to launch service through its own app in those cities in January 2028 “alongside their existing deployment with Uber.” This “would end Waymo’s exclusivity in Austin and Atlanta and allow us to launch with other AV providers in those cities, which we will be prepared to do,” the spokesperson added. The current fleet of Waymo vehicles will remain on Uber’s platform through at least May 2028, the duration of the current contract, Uber said. The Financial Times reported earlier that Waymo was exploring options for exiting the partnership. Shares of Uber fell as much as 4.9% to $65.56 in New York. Alphabet’s stock was up less than 1%. A representative for Waymo did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The rift is a major setback for Uber, which has been developing partnerships with Waymo and fleet managers and investing in other robotaxi companies