Waymo's Expansion Spooks Uber — Is Lyft The Smarter AV Play?

When Alphabet Inc‘s GOOGL GOOG Waymo announced a robotaxi rollout in Dallas via Avis without Uber Technologies Inc UBER, investors got nervous, sending Uber shares into a mini tailspin. But while Uber scurried, LYFT Inc LYFT quietly stuck to its playbook: smart partnerships, controlled risk, and expansion without drama.

Track LYFT stock’s performance here.

The question now: is Lyft the better bet in the autonomous future?

When Expansion Becomes A Sting

Uber has long leaned on partnerships with Waymo, General Motors Co‘s GM Cruise, Nuro, and others to bring robotaxis into its ride-hail app. Despite aggressive backing, Waymo's latest expansion into Dallas—announced in conjunction with Avis—didn’t include Uber, rattling the markets.

Uber's shares slid over 3.5% as investors questioned whether Waymo might bypass it entirely in future deals.

Read Also: The Button Women Riders Have Been Waiting For—Uber’s Women-Matching Feature Arrives In The U.S.

Lyft's Lean-And-Mean Partnership Playbook

Lyft, by contrast, is forging its AV (autonomous vehicle) future through alliances with Mobileye Global Inc MBLY, May Mobility, Marubeni Corp MARUY, and Baidu Inc BIDU. Its robotaxi rollout in Dallas, Atlanta and next year in Europe, with Baidu's Apollo Go shows a carefully curated set of partners and clearly mapped execution.

Lyft also launched its Driver Autonomous Forum in Atlanta, tapping experienced drivers to shape rollout planning—a signal that it’s thinking long-term and inclusively.

Why Investors Should Care

Uber's heavy reliance on Waymo makes it vulnerable to sudden strategic exclusions.

Lyft, while smaller, is methodically building an AV moat through partnerships and multiregional deployment.

As robotaxis go mainstream, investors may find Lyft's approach more balanced—and potentially more rewarding—for the long haul.

Read Next:

• Baidu, Lyft Partner To Bring Self-Driving Taxis To Europe, Starting In 2026

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