Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on 5 August 2026 that the company's partnership with Waymo remains 'very strong,' despite the two ending their Phoenix robotaxi deal earlier this year. The comment matters because it signals who will control the robotaxi rides people book in the next few years.
What actually happened
Speaking on an earnings call on 5 August 2026, Khosrowshahi said, 'Waymo is a very important partner of ours, and we continue to operate in Austin and Atlanta... the on-the-ground partnership continues to be very strong,' according to The Verge. He added that robotaxi rides make up 'less than 0.5 percent' of Uber's total trip volume. Uber has said it plans to spend more than $10 billion (USD) building out its robotaxi business over time. The company also works with Zoox, Wayve, Avride, Nuro, Motional and Waabi. 'We want to make sure that we're not dependent on one partner,' Khosrowshahi said, citing a 'plethora of newer players in the AV ecosystem.'
How we got here
Uber and Waymo ended their robotaxi partnership in Phoenix earlier this year, prompting speculation about a wider split. Signs of strain followed: Uber's CTO posted about a 'scary Waymo moment,' and an Uber white paper favored a hybrid human and robot model over an AV only approach, according to The Verge. Last month, the companies landed on opposite sides of a Washington, DC bill to legalize robotaxi services, with Waymo backing it and Uber pushing for a hybrid model instead. Despite this, Uber and Waymo continue running rides together in Austin and Atlanta, markets Khosrowshahi expects to keep operating in through next year.
Why this matters for you
For riders, the Uber and Waymo alliance still means access to Waymo's driverless cars through the Uber app in select cities, at least through next year. For Uber, spreading deals across Zoox, Wayve, Avride, Nuro, Motional and Waabi reduces reliance on any single robotaxi supplier. For AV startups, Uber's willingness to sign multiple deals could open more funding and deployment routes. For Waymo, its ability to run without Uber in some markets remains a source of leverage. Investors should note robotaxi rides still make up a tiny share of Uber's total business.
The bigger question
Khosrowshahi insists Uber and Waymo remain close partners, yet Uber is also building rival relationships and downplaying robotaxi's current scale, while Waymo already runs without Uber in some cities. Will ride-hailing platforms end up needing robotaxi makers more than robotaxi makers need the platforms, once several self-driving competitors reach commercial scale?
What to watch
Uber and Waymo expect to keep operating together in Austin and Atlanta through next year, per Khosrowshahi's 5 August 2026 earnings-call comments. Watch Uber's next quarterly call for updates on its robotaxi partner roster, and any movement on the Washington, DC robotaxi bill that split Uber and Waymo. Bonuz will keep tracking how this rivalry shapes the hardware behind autonomous rides.
