Waymo Signals Move Toward Independent Robotaxi Operations

This strategic pivot comes as the contract governing Waymo’s presence on Uber’s network is slated to expire in May 2028. The companies have already dissolved their partnership in Phoenix, a move that precedes the broader scaling of Waymo’s proprietary service. While both firms maintain a public-facing alliance for now, the relationship has grown increasingly strained.

Friction between the two companies has surfaced through public critiques of autonomous vehicle performance. Uber CTO Praveen Neppalli previously shared footage documenting what he described as unsafe behavior by a Waymo vehicle, and CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has voiced concerns regarding robotaxi operations in school zones and emergency scenarios. Beyond these operational disputes, the companies have landed on opposing sides of critical regulatory battles, further signaling a cooling of their once-collaborative dynamic.