Metro Atlanta Rideshare Drivers Push Back Against Growing Robotaxi Competition

For many Atlanta-area rideshare drivers, the rapid expansion of autonomous vehicles is creating new uncertainty about the future of gig work.

Some drivers gathered Thursday to voice concerns that driverless taxis are taking away trips they once depended on, leaving them with lower earnings while the costs of operating their own vehicles continue to climb.

Richard Feinburg said the impact has been noticeable since Waymo vehicles became available through the Uber platform. He estimates his weekly income has dropped between 10% and 30%, although the decline varies from day to day.

Feinburg, who previously worked as a graphic artist, said rideshare driving evolved from a side job into his primary source of income. Now, he says the economics no longer make sense. Fuel, tire replacements, maintenance and other vehicle expenses continue to rise, yet drivers are expected to absorb those costs without additional support from the companies they drive for.

As a result, Feinburg said he is looking to cut back and return to driving only on weekends because the wear and tear on his vehicle has become too expensive to justify.

When Uber and Waymo introduced autonomous rides in metro Atlanta, the companies said the self-driving vehicles would mainly serve shorter trips that human drivers often preferred to avoid. Feinburg argues the reality has been different. He said changes in Uber’s pricing model have made many short-distance rides among the most profitable fares, putting robotaxis in direct competition with drivers for some of their best-paying work.

Drivers at Thursday’s event said the shift toward automation should not come without safeguards for the people who currently rely on rideshare work to earn a living.

Neither Uber nor Waymo had issued a response to requests for comment from CBS News Atlanta before publication.