Direct answer
Driverless vehicles still need people for physical upkeep. Fleet operations partners, operator teams and contractors divide that work. Uber’s Waymo agreement assigns it cleaning, repair and depot operations in Austin and Atlanta; Moove describes live Waymo operations in Phoenix and Miami. The driving system and the service business are different responsibilities. [1] [2]
The operator is not always the service buyer
Uber’s 2024 announcement leaves Waymo responsible for the Waymo Driver, roadside assistance and certain rider-support functions. A fleet management contract therefore does not mean the partner controls every part of a ride. [1]
For a local business, the practical question is who authorizes the particular job. The answer may differ for routine depot work, a roadside callout and a collision repair. Ask for the buyer, dispatch contact, work scope and payment terms before treating a relationship as a source of work.
A map of the physical work
| Function | Example | What this establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning and charging | Moove’s Miami deployment role includes cabin and exterior cleaning, sanitization and charging connections. [3] | Evidence of a human depot role, not a fleet-wide cleaning frequency. |
| Maintenance | Moove’s Phoenix technician posting includes mechanical work, inspections and more specialized hardware tasks at higher levels. [4] | An employer’s role description, not authorization for an outside shop. |
| Depot operations | Avis announced infrastructure, readiness, maintenance and depot work for Waymo in Dallas in July 2025. [5] | The announced scope; not a complete subcontractor list. |
| Recovery | Waymo publishes different response documents for its vehicle platforms. [6] | Recovery requires platform-specific coordination. |
What a service business should prepare
AV Steward’s suggested starting point is a narrow capability description: the work you can perform, locations and hours you can cover, equipment, relevant training and the records you can provide. Distinguish your own employees from subcontractors.
Do not describe ordinary EV experience as proof of autonomous-fleet work. A business can be relevant to fleet servicing without having a documented robotaxi customer. Keep those facts separate.
Do not turn a plan into an operating claim
Flexdrive’s April 2026 Nashville announcement describes a depot opening in fall 2026. That release establishes a plan; it does not by itself confirm the opening happened. [7]
Our partner comparison records the source and status rather than ranking companies. There is no complete public map of every repair, glass, tire or recovery supplier behind every operator.
Frequently asked questions
Who should a local shop contact?
Identify the fleet operations buyer for the specific market and service. A rider help desk is not necessarily a procurement channel.
Does the robotaxi company do all its own maintenance?
No single staffing model applies across all fleets. Read the named contract scope and the employer’s role descriptions rather than assuming every worker is employed by the vehicle brand.
Does AV Steward book work?
No. The directory is in development; these guides provide reference information, not dispatch or guaranteed contracts.
What we don’t know yet
- The complete local subcontractor roster for each operator.
- Current outsourcing volumes, rates and acceptance criteria.
- Which tasks a particular depot keeps in-house.
Sources
- Uber: Waymo partnership in Austin and Atlanta (September 13, 2024) · Accessed
- Moove: Series C announcement (August 2026) · Accessed
- Moove: Fleet Deployment Specialist, Miami · Accessed
- Moove: Autonomous Vehicle Technician, Phoenix · Accessed
- Avis Budget Group: Waymo partnership (July 29, 2025) · Accessed
- Waymo: current first-responder documents · Accessed
- Lyft: Flexdrive Nashville depot plans (April 15, 2026) · Accessed
Related reading
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