Uber's robotaxi lobbying effort puts it on a collision course with Waymo

Uber is lobbying against a proposed Washington, D.C., bill that would allow autonomous vehicles to operate without human safety operators, putting the ride-hailing company in direct opposition with its business partner Waymo, according to public records and interviews reviewed by TechCrunch. The bill, introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen in May, would update the district's 2012 Autonomous Vehicle Act to permit driverless testing and commercial deployment. Waymo supports the legislation, contending it will allow safe deployment while supporting public transit and equitable access. Uber argues the measure would displace for-hire human drivers and hand Waymo a de facto monopoly. The company has pushed instead for a regulatory framework requiring robotaxis to operate on a ride-hailing network that also uses human drivers. Javi Correoso, who leads U.S. policy and federal affairs for Uber, said in May during a D.C. Council roundtable that a hybrid model means consumers should have the ability to access both human-driven and autonomous rides on the same app. He also argued robotaxis create congestion and cited data stating one autonomous vehicle displaces roughly four drivers. Both companies are scheduled to present their positions at a day-long hearing Monday. The bill's passage is not imminent, though many parties hope for approval before the end of the year and before Mayor Muriel Bowser leaves office in January.