Uber's DC Robotaxi Lobbying Puts It on a Collision Course With Waymo
A proposed Washington D.C. autonomous vehicle bill has become the test case for Uber's hybrid network pitch, pitting the ride-hail giant against partner Waymo ahead of Monday's council hearing.
Key Takeaways
Uber is lobbying against a D.C. autonomous vehicle bill backed by its partner-rival Waymo, ahead of a day-long council hearing on Monday, per TechCrunch (July 13, 2026).
The bill from Councilmember Charles Allen would let DDOT permit commercial driverless deployment, requiring $5 million liability insurance, crash reporting within 8 or 72 hours, and a $0.15 per-mile robotaxi tax for transit and driver retraining.
Uber argues the bill would displace human drivers and hand Waymo a monopoly, instead pushing a 'hybrid' model requiring human-driven rides to coexist with robotaxis on one platform.
Waymo, now running over 500,000 weekly rides across 11 cities, supports the bill and opposes limiting AVs to specific network types, spokesperson Ethan Teicher said.
The Uber-Waymo Phoenix app partnership quietly ended in May, and Monday's hearing includes Tesla, Lyft, unions and accessibility groups, making D.C. a likely precedent-setter.
Kaan Tınmaz
A proposed Washington D.C. autonomous vehicle bill has turned into the most public test yet of Uber's evolving robotaxi strategy, TechCrunch reported on July 13, 2026, with the ride-hail giant openly lobbying against provisions backed by its partner and rival Waymo ahead of a Monday day-long council hearing.
What the DC bill would do
The bill, introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen in May, would update the district's Autonomous Vehicle Act of 2012 to allow commercial driverless testing and deployment. The District Department of Transportation would gain authority to issue permits to AV developers meeting requirements including $5 million in liability insurance and crash-data reporting within 8 or 72 hours. Robotaxi operators would also pay a $0.15 per-mile tax split between transit and driver retraining.
Uber's hybrid network gambit
Uber, which opposes the bill, argues it would displace human drivers and hand Waymo a de facto monopoly. Instead, the company is lobbying for a "hybrid" model in which robotaxis and human drivers coexist on a single ride-hailing platform. "There should be a requirement for consumers to be able to take an Uber that's driven by a human," Uber policy chief Javi Correoso told a D.C. Council roundtable in May. Uber's push mirrors a May 2026 white paper and a policy essay by COO Andrew MacDonald — the company's most explicit attempt to convert its ride-hail muscle into robotaxi rules.
Waymo pushes back
Alphabet-owned Waymo, which now runs more than 500,000 weekly rides across 11 cities and recently expanded into San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa and Denver, backs the bill and says the legislation supports safe deployment, equitable access and public transit. Spokesperson Ethan Teicher said Waymo does not support efforts to limit AVs to specific types of networks.
A frenemy relationship under strain
Uber and Waymo settled a high-profile trade-secret suit in 2018 and teamed up in 2023 to offer Waymo rides through the Uber app in Phoenix. That specific partnership quietly ended in May, and the two are now heading toward a broader showdown in London. Monday's hearing will feature testimony from Tesla, Lyft, labor unions and accessibility groups — signaling that the D.C. fight will set precedent well beyond the district.
Reporting based on coverage from TechCrunch, Axios D.C. and Wired.
What would the proposed D.C. autonomous vehicle bill do?
Introduced by Councilmember Charles Allen in May, it would update the 2012 Autonomous Vehicle Act to allow commercial driverless testing and deployment, with DDOT issuing permits requiring $5 million in liability insurance and crash-data reporting within 8 or 72 hours, plus a $0.15 per-mile robotaxi tax split between transit and driver retraining.
Why is Uber opposing the bill?
Uber says the bill would displace human drivers and give Waymo a de facto monopoly. It wants a hybrid model where robotaxis and human drivers coexist on one ride-hailing platform, with policy chief Javi Correoso arguing consumers should be guaranteed the option of a human-driven Uber.
What is Waymo's position?
Alphabet-owned Waymo backs the bill, saying it supports safe deployment, equitable access and public transit, and spokesperson Ethan Teicher said Waymo does not support efforts to limit AVs to specific types of networks.
What is the current state of the Uber-Waymo relationship?
The companies settled a trade-secret suit in 2018 and partnered in 2023 to offer Waymo rides via the Uber app in Phoenix, but that partnership quietly ended in May 2026 and they are heading toward a broader showdown in London as well as the D.C. fight.
