Uber, Waymo in talks about self-driving partnership -Uber CEO

Posted on May 31, 2018

Uber Technologies Inc is talking with Alphabet Inc's autonomous driving unit Waymo about using its technology on Uber's ride-hailing app, Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi said on Wednesday, signaling a possible thaw in relations between the firms.

Khosrowshahi said on stage at the Code Conference that Uber's relationship with Waymo was "getting better" since Uber in February agreed to pay Waymo $245 million in shares to settle a legal dispute over trade secrets.

"We're having discussions with Waymo. If something happens, great. If not, we can live with that, too," Khosrowshahi said.

Waymo is an "incredible technology provider" and having it on Uber's network would be a good thing, he added.

Waymo declined to comment. It has, though, proceeded with plans to operate without Uber's help, developing a fleet of cars that it said has self-driven 6 million miles on public roads.

In a lawsuit filed last year, Waymo said that one of its former engineers who became chief of Uber's self-driving car project took with him thousands of confidential documents. The lawsuit cost Uber both time and money in its self-driving car development.