UK — The Register

Uber says it alone can make robotaxis pay, hours after Waymo quit its app

MobilityNovember 5, 20262 min read

Uber says it can make robotaxis (self-driving taxis) earn money well, just as Waymo ended a deal to offer its self-driving cars on Uber's app. The news came on the same day Uber reported its quarterly results.

What happened

Waymo, a self-driving taxi company owned by Google, said it will stop letting Uber users book its robotaxis. The two companies had worked only together in Austin and Atlanta. Waymo said it was unhappy that people who asked for an Uber ride in one of its cars were not sure to get one. Hours later, Uber's boss, Dara Khosrowshahi, said Uber is the best home for robotaxi companies to earn money.

Key numbers

Uber says its app gives about 30 percent more trips per vehicle per day than apps run by robotaxi companies.
Uber plans to put about 2,000 robotaxis on the road in 2027.
Uber users booked $59.8 billion of services in the third quarter, up 20 percent from a year earlier.
Uber earned $14.75 billion in revenue, a 10 percent rise.
Australia's High Court said Uber must pay AU$81 million ($57 million) in state payroll taxes.

Some background

A robotaxi is a taxi with no human driver. Companies that run robotaxis can either build their own booking app or sell rides through a shared app like Uber's. Uber wants robotaxi companies to use its app. It says sharing its busy network, plus shared charging and repair services, can help them make a profit even after paying Uber a fee.

Why it matters

The split shows how big tech companies compete for control of rides. Uber says its large platform makes it the right host for others, but the article notes that both Uber and Google hold very strong positions in their markets. Uber also plans to focus its money on a smaller group of partners, which may matter for robotaxi firms that want to join its app. The Australian tax ruling is another sign that governments see app-based driver fees as wages.

What to watch

Whether Waymo finds another way to reach riders outside Uber's app.
How many robotaxis Uber really puts on the road in 2027, and whether its bigger rollout begins in 2028 as planned.
Whether other states in Australia also move to collect payroll tax from rideshare fees.

Glossary

Waymo: A self-driving taxi company owned by Google that runs robotaxis.
Uber: A ride-booking and food and goods delivery company with a large app.

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