Many people feel skeptical about getting into a car with no driver behind the wheel. But many experts believe robotaxis are the way of the future (and studies show a lot of regular riders are warming up to the technology, too).
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been one of the earliest high-profile voices to champion the technology, with promises made during Tesla’s Q4 earnings call that a robotaxi service will debut in Austin, Texas this year.
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“We’re going to be launching unsupervised Full Self-Driving as a paid service in Austin in June,” Musk said.
The service will use Tesla Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The Tesla Cybercab, which Tesla first showed off in 2024 as a driverless option, will not be used just yet, as its production has been pushed back to 2026.
Related: Waymo’s ambitious robotaxi plan is a shot across Tesla’s bow
However, Musk isn’t the only person exploring the space. Alphabet (GOOGL) -owned Waymo is also known for its robotaxis, and perhaps more notable, the company launched them years before Musk was able to debut his own. They can actually be used today in some states.
Up until now, Waymo’s self-driving vehicles have only been available in San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, and Los Angeles. But now Waymo has confirmed that a city on its list will finally offer the driverless service.
A Waymo autonomous self-driving Jaguar taxi drives in Los Angeles, California.
Image source: Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Waymo chooses a gem of the south
Waymo announced on April 15 that it would be bringing its “Waymo on Uber” program to Atlanta this summer.
While Atlanta has been mentioned in the company’s previous plans, this is the first time we are hearing specifics on when the service will make its debut.
Waymo One on Uber will specifically be available in popular areas of Atlanta, including downtown, Buckhead, and Capitol View. Waymo says that this area will be expanded in the future.
Related: Cruise collapse creates opportunity for big robotaxi rival
Atlanta will also be the second city on Waymo’s list to feature the co-branded Jaguar I-PACE vehicles.
Uber opened an interest list on April 15 for interested parties to join. Both Uber and Waymo say that those on the list are most likely to be able to hail the driverless rides once the service launches. Signing up also increases customers’ chances to secure early access to the rides before they launch for the public.
How do I get on the waitlist?
Once the service launches in Atlanta this summer, you’ll need to do more than just open the Uber app to find one. You’ll need to update your Uber app to let it know you’re open to the driverless experience.
Go into your account, and then into your settings. Check out the “Ride Preferences” section. You can check off autonomous vehicles here and also join the interest list. Riders selected to try it will be notified by email. That means if you are chosen, soon enough you, too, will have the exciting and mildly haunting experience of watching your ride drive itself (it still gives this writer the shivers).
A few more things to know: the price of hailing a robotaxi will be the same as the cost of taking an Uber X, and the price will be viewable in the app just as with any regular ride. If you’re worried about what happens if you need help during the ride, you can ask for it both inside the vehicle or via the Uber app, and you will be able to talk to a human.
Related: General Motors and Nvidia team up to revive its self-driving prospects
