Waymo has integrated YouTube Music into its self-driving taxis, giving riders another option for in-car entertainment during their trips.
The Alphabet-owned self-driving car company announced the partnership on Tuesday (September 30), YouTube Music Premium and YouTube Premium subscribers to access their personal playlists and podcasts through the vehicle’s built-in display.
The integration comes more than a month after Waymo struck a similar arrangement with Spotify, embedding that streaming platform directly into its fleet. YouTube Music now joins Spotify and iHeartRadio as the third music service available in Waymo vehicles.
As with the Spotify integration, YouTube Music users can connect their accounts through the Waymo mobile app or by scanning a QR code displayed on the car’s screen. The company is offering a three-month trial of YouTube Premium to riders who qualify for the promotion.
To promote the launch, Waymo and YouTube Music tapped pop artist Julia Michaels to record a performance of her single No Heartbreak’s Killed Me Yet from the backseat of a Waymo vehicle. After her ride, Michaels said: “I love Waymo cause it’s nonjudgmental. I feel safe to sing as silly as I want with YouTube Music and be as free as I want. It’s an incredible experience.”
By offering multiple streaming options, the company is attempting to replicate the personalized experience riders expect from their own vehicles.
Riders can control playback through the touchscreen mounted in the back seat, with options to play, pause, and skip tracks while traveling. Audio settings can be adjusted through the “My Car” tab in the Waymo app.
For those connecting their accounts mid-ride, the system requires riders to play music from the in-car screen first before switching to the mobile app, Google explained in its support page. Only pre-existing playlists from a rider’s personal library appear as options during trips.
Waymo currently operates commercial robotaxi services in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix. The company has been expanding its fleet, partnering with Uber in Austin and Atlanta to allow riders in those cities to request self-driving rides through the Uber app. Waymo has already hinted at plans to launch in Miami and Washington, DC.
For YouTube Music, this marks its first-ever partnership with a ride-hailing company. Its rival, Spotify, has already teamed up with Uber, allowing riders to play their on-demand library ad free. However, YouTube Music is available on Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It’s also available on Tesla cars and the Waze app.
Beyond the auto sector, YouTube Music has also been integrated in Google products like Google Pixel Buds, Home and Nest speakers, as well as smart displays and smart TVs, the Apple Watch, Fitbit and Garmin smartwatches, Apple HomePod, and Sonos wireless speakers, Sony headphones and Wiim speakers.
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