Related: These parents shun Uber for Waymo for a built-in safety feature Of the move, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said “With Waymo’s technology and Uber’s proven platform, we’re excited to introduce our customers to a future of transportation that is increasingly electric and autonomous.

Uber is set to launch a new ride-hailing service using self-driving cars in Austin, Texas – the backyard of Elon Musk ’s Tesla. The autonomous option is a collaboration between Uber and Waymo, a leading robotaxi company.

Beginning Tuesday, rideshare hailers on Uber in Austin, Texas, can call a driverless Waymo, from Google’s parent company, Alphabet, for the first time. Travelers will be able to book rides across 37 square miles in Austin, the backyard of competitor Tesla, and in the Lone Star State that has long been a testing ground for driverless vehicles.

The Alphabet unit starts commercial operations in its fourth city, where rides can be booked with Uber’s app. Uber is also providing charging and maintenance services.

The shares of electric car manufacturer Tesla, led by Elon Musk, have fallen by more than 15 percent in one day - and have thus also lost the last

February numbers show the U.S. electric-car maker is struggling to attract buyers in the region. Mr. Musk’s politics aren’t helping.