The race to dominate the autonomous ride-hailing market is heating up. Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving subsidiary, is not only pushing ahead with new technology but also proving its robotaxis can outperform most human drivers on Uber’s platform. The company has now deployed its sixth-generation vehicles for testing in Philadelphia, marking a key step in its Northeast expansion.
Waymo Robotaxis Outpace 99% of Uber Drivers in Q2 Surge
During Uber’s second-quarter 2025 earnings call, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi shared a striking update: Waymo robotaxis operating on the platform in Austin and Atlanta were more productive than 99% of Uber’s human drivers. These vehicles completed more daily trips on average, highlighting the operational advantage of autonomous technology.
Uber itself reported $12.65 billion in revenue for the quarter, an 18% year-over-year increase that exceeded analyst expectations. Khosrowshahi said the partnership with Waymo had already “exceeded expectations,” with about 100 robotaxis currently in operation and plans to scale to several hundred more in the coming quarters.
This success underscores why Uber is betting big on automation. For the company, AVs represent more than a futuristic experiment—they could reshape the core of its business.
How Robotaxis Outperform Human Drivers
The productivity gap comes down to one simple fact: autonomous vehicles don’t get tired. Unlike human drivers who need rest, robotaxis can work almost nonstop. They can handle back-to-back rides with minimal downtime, pausing only for charging, cleaning, or maintenance.
According to Business Insider, Waymo’s fleet can theoretically operate nearly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This near-constant utilization is something no human workforce can match.
Waymo’s advantage comes after years of development and testing. The company has logged millions of miles in real-world conditions, fine-tuning its systems to handle complex traffic scenarios. Now, Uber is reaping the benefits as robotaxis help close demand gaps during peak times while maintaining high efficiency.
Self-Driving Cars: Uber’s Biggest Opportunity Yet
Uber has rapidly expanded its self-driving partnerships, growing from 18 to 20 AV collaborations in just a few months. The company also announced a $300 million investment in EV maker Lucid and robotics startup Nuro, aiming to put more than 20,000 autonomous vehicles on the road by 2032.
Significantly, Uber’s largest expense is driver payments. In Q1 2025 alone, the company paid out $18.6 billion to human drivers. While AV partnerships won’t erase these costs, they could significantly reduce them and improve margins. That efficiency could eventually trickle down to consumers through lower fares.
Still, Uber isn’t pushing humans aside just yet. Khosrowshahi said drivers and robotaxis will coexist for at least the next decade as the company gradually integrates more automation into its network of 170 million monthly active users.
Waymo’s Sixth-Gen Robotaxis Arrive in Philadelphia
While Uber works on scaling its platform, Waymo continues advancing its technology. The company recently rolled out its sixth-generation robotaxis in Philadelphia as part of its broader Northeast expansion strategy.
Significantly, Philadelphia is a key stop on Waymo’s broader “road trip” testing initiative across Northeast cities, including New York and Boston. The company began mapping Philadelphia in July 2025, running vehicles with safety drivers through neighborhoods like North Central and University City, and along highways such as I-76 and I-95
According to Waymo spokesperson Ethan Teicher, the testing is focused heavily on winter conditions. Seasonal data is essential before AVs can operate commercially, and Philadelphia provides a perfect proving ground with its varied weather and dense urban traffic.
By gathering this data now, Waymo is preparing its fleet to handle the toughest challenges before scaling operations in the Northeast.
Cutting Complexity While Boosting Performance
The sixth-generation Waymo Driver represents a big leap forward in design. Earlier versions carried 29 cameras and five LiDAR sensors, but the new system has streamlined that to 13 cameras and four LiDAR units. Despite fewer sensors, the vehicles still achieve overlapping 360-degree coverage and can detect objects up to 500 meters away, even in poor lighting or heavy weather.
This reduction in hardware complexity helps lower costs while maintaining safety and reliability. It also makes the system easier to scale. The vehicles are built on the Zeekr RT, a purpose-built electric car developed with Chinese automaker Zeekr. Mass production is expected to start later this year, making Zeekr the first Chinese automaker to enter the U.S. robotaxi market.
See below: The 6th-generation Waymo Driver on the rider-first autonomous vehicle platform designed in partnership with Zeekr RT
Waymo Robotaxis Gain Massive Consumer Traction
The Philadelphia rollout comes at a time when robotaxis are gaining traction with riders. In cities like Atlanta, Uber customers have already shown a preference for Waymos over human drivers, choosing the autonomous option when available. This trend highlights the growing acceptance of self-driving technology among U.S. consumers.
Waymo is already running commercial services in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. New markets like Washington, D.C., and Miami are expected to come online by 2026. Each expansion strengthens Waymo’s lead in the competitive AV race.
The Future of Autonomous Ride-Hailing
Waymo’s sixth-generation robotaxis and Uber’s enthusiasm for scaling AV partnerships point to a rapidly approaching future where autonomous vehicles play a central role in ride-hailing. For Uber, robotaxis could lower costs, boost margins, and reduce reliance on its massive driver payouts. For Waymo, each new city and hardware upgrade brings it closer to proving its technology at scale.
Human drivers aren’t disappearing anytime soon, but the balance is starting to shift. Robotaxis are on the streets today, outperforming human drivers in productivity and gaining trust from riders. And the number is only going to rise in the future.
Goldman Sachs Research projects that autonomous vehicles could bring in around $7 billion in yearly revenue, claiming nearly 8% of the US rideshare market, up sharply from under 1% today.
As Uber and Waymo continue their collaboration, the ride-hailing industry could look very different by the next decade, with machines increasingly steering the future of urban mobility.
