Hyperdrive
Inside the Abrupt End of Silicon Valley's Biggest Trial
- Waymo won main goal to get outside review of Uber’s software
- New Uber leaders decided not to fight someone else’s battle
This article is for subscribers only.
As former Uber chief Travis Kalanick prepared to take the stand this week in a courtroom battle that’s gripped Silicon Valley, Waymo lawyer Kevin Vosen privately made a late settlement offer: Would the ride-hailing startup pay $500 million in stock and let an outside monitor review its autonomous-vehicle software?
Only days later, Waymo accepted half that amount, abruptly halting a case that had rocked the emerging driverless car industry and slowed the progress of two leaders in the field. The behind-the-scenes negotiations, recounted by people familiar with the case, show why both companies took the unusual step of ending the fight in the midst of a trial.