Waymo has unveiled a new monthly membership program called Waymo Premier, priced at $29.99 per month, targeting the robotaxi company's most frequent riders.
According to TechCrunch, the program offers members 10% cash back on rides and five free cancellations per month. The Verge reports that members also get faster pickups and a more "elevated and exclusive" experience — drawing comparisons to Uber's own loyalty tier, Uber One.
The membership is invite-only, meaning Waymo gets to decide who is eligible rather than opening sign-ups to all riders. CNBC reports the program is launching in select cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.
Not everyone is impressed. Engadget was blunt in its assessment, calling the membership "a bad deal" and suggesting the perks don't justify the monthly fee.
The move signals that Waymo is maturing beyond simply proving its autonomous vehicles can operate safely — it's now building the kind of customer loyalty infrastructure that traditional ride-hail companies have leaned on for years. Whether frequent riders feel $30 a month is worth faster pickups and a cash-back program will reveal a lot about how sticky Waymo's service has become in the cities where it operates.