Waymo rides cost more than Uber or Lyft — and people are paying anyway

image via TechCrunch

June 12, 2025, 12:00 PM

• •Waymo's self-driving car rides are consistently more expensive than Uber and Lyft.
• •Waymo's pricing model appears less sophisticated, leading to higher prices for short trips and longer wait times.
• •Despite higher costs, a significant percentage of users prefer driverless cars and are willing to pay more for them.

Obi's analysis reveals that Waymo's robotaxi service is more expensive than Uber and Lyft, a surprising finding given the expectation that autonomous vehicles would be a cheaper alternative. This higher cost is partly due to a less sophisticated pricing model, resulting in more expensive short trips and longer wait times. However, despite the price difference, customer preference for driverless cars remains, with many willing to pay a premium for the novelty and experience.

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