Ride service Uber opened an interest list on Feb. 5 for Austin users to join if they would like to ride in a Waymo autonomous car instead of a standard rideshare vehicle, according to a Waymo spokesperson.
Both companies announced last year they partnered to bring joint services to Atlanta and Austin in early 2025, according to a news release. Under the partnership, Uber will dispatch Waymo cars to clients and clean them, while the autonomous car company will be in charge of testing the vehicles and providing roadside assistance.
“Partnering with Uber to serve riders in Austin will allow us to scale our technology quickly, while offering improved road safety, increased accessibility, and another sustainable transportation option to Austin travelers,” said Chris Bonelli, the product communication manager for Waymo, in an email.
However, Bonelli said an official launch date has yet to be determined. He said the interest list serves as a way for clients to receive updates once Waymo rides become available with Uber. The list increases one’s chances of getting to ride in one of the self-driving cars when the partnership officially launches, he said.
Riders interested in getting picked up by a Waymo car can access the interest list through the Uber app by clicking on the “Settings” page and then changing their riding preference to “Autonomous vehicles,” according to the Uber website.
Hannah Gealon, a microbiology junior, said she has taken an Uber in the past to travel to the airport. She said autonomous cars offer benefits to certain groups.
“They could be helpful, for accessibility reasons, for people who don’t know how to drive or can’t drive in the first place,” Gealon said. “I used to live in the Houston suburbs and I would always be in my house because I didn’t know how to drive … autonomous cars could be helpful (with that).”
Despite expanding its services, Waymo is under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for various incidents that resulted in crashes or fires, according to a report from the agency. Bonelli said the company is committed to working with the administration to solve these issues.
Sofia Westmoreland, a political communications and Plan II sophomore, said she would like there to be more testing to ensure the vehicles are safe before riding in a Waymo car under the Uber partnership.
“Self-driving cars are not always reliable because it is a code rather than a human, but I also know the argument that it can save lives because it is a computer,” Westmoreland said. “If it was a short drive, I don’t think I’d have any argument against riding in one.”
