UBER TO DISPATCH WAYMO'S ROBOTAXIS IN AUSTIN AND ATLANTA NEXT YEAR

Ride-hailing leader Uber announced it will dispatch robotaxis built by driverless technology pioneer Waymo beginning next year in Austin, Texas, and Atlanta in a deal that deepens the bond between once-bitter rivals.

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The alliance expands upon a partnership the two companies forged in Phoenix last year, signaling they were ready to set aside their differences and work together following a bruising legal battle revolving around allegations that Uber had stolen Waymo's trade secrets.

Uber's increasing reliance on Waymo's robotaxis to supplement the fleet of cars driven by people responding to requests sent on a mobile app comes just a few weeks after it announced plans to deploy driverless cars from General Motors' beleaguered Cruise subsidiary.