Waymo Robotaxis Outperform Humans in Austin, Uber Plans Atlanta Expansion

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted during the company's Q1 2025 earnings call that Waymo's autonomous vehicles are outperforming human drivers in Austin, Texas, with about 100 Waymo robotaxis busier than 99% of local drivers in terms of trips per day. This strong performance has prompted plans to expand the autonomous fleet in Austin and launch robotaxis in Atlanta later this year. Uber’s strategic focus on partnerships with multiple autonomous vehicle companies, including WeRide and Pony.ai, reflects its aim to diversify its self-driving offerings globally. The company reported solid financial results with $11.53 billion in revenue and a record adjusted EBITDA of $1.9 billion, while noting insurance costs are moderating, which benefits profitability. Despite missing revenue expectations, Uber views self-driving cars as its “single greatest opportunity,” emphasizing its commitment to scaling robotaxi services through various partnerships rather than developing its own technology. However, competition is increasing, as Tesla plans to enter the robotaxi market in Austin, potentially impacting Uber’s driver ecosystem.