Uber CEO Suggests Autonomous Vehicle Partnership with Waymo
The comments follow a recent court settlement with Waymo, as well as a fatal crash involving a self-driving Uber test vehicle in Arizona.
Waymo has agreed to purchase up to 62,000 Fiat Chrysler minivans as part of its ride-hailing operations.
Photo courtesy of Waymo.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said at the Code Conference yesterday that the ride-hailing company was in talks with Google's Waymo to add self-driving vehicles to Uber, The Next Web reports.
The announcement follows a court settlement between Uber and Waymo, where Uber faced allegations that it stole information from Waymo to build its own self-driving vehicles.
Uber has also faced recent controversy after one of its autonomous test cars struck and killed a cyclist in Tempe, Ariz. The ride-hailing company since announced it will end its test program in the state, following Arizona Govenor Doug Ducey essentially banning the San Francisco-based company from operating its test cars in his state.
Khosrowshahi announced that Uber will resume testing self-driving vehicles in the summer in Pittsburg, San Francisco, and Sacramento, Calif. He also confirmed plans to take the ride-hailing company public in 2019.
Recenlty, Waymo entered an agreement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to purchase as many as 62,000 minivans for its ride-hailing service.
Related: Uber's Self-Driving Vehicles Rely on Humans to Brake in Emergencies
More Rental Operations
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service
Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.
Read More →
Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap
A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.
Read More →
U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana
The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.
Read More →
When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?
As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)
Read More →
European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country
Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.
Read More →
Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.
Read More →
Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental
Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)
Read More →