Waymo, Uber begin offering robotaxi rides in Austin ahead of SXSW

A Waymo car drives along a street on March 01, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving car division, announced that it has laid off over 135 employees in a second round of layoffs this year. Waymo on Tuesday began offering robotaxi rides in Austin, Texas, through the Uber app. The launch sets up Waymo to showcase its driverless technology during Austin's annual South by Southwest festival that kicks off Friday. Approximately 300,000 people descend on the Texas capital to attend SXSW on average each year, according to the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We can't wait for Austin locals and visitors alike to experience Waymo One via the Uber app starting this week," said Nicole Gavel, Waymo's head of business development and strategic partnerships, in a statement. Waymo previously said it would be launching in Austin, among several other U.S. cities, in 2025. Austin is the first market where Uber will manage and dispatch a fleet of Waymo vehicles. Ride ... Read full article.