SAN FRANCISCO, March 30 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) unit Waymo said on Wednesday it has started offering driverless rides to employees in San Francisco, accelerating a race with General Motors Co (GM.N)-backed rival Cruise to commercialize the technology in the dense city.
Waymo also introduced autonomous rides to employees in downtown Phoenix with safety drivers behind the wheel, with a goal to open it to public testing.
"Operating fully autonomously in multiple markets — in addition to Waymo's growing trucking operations — is a critical validator of the scalability of Waymo's operations and technology," it said in a statement.
A self-driving technology pioneer, Waymo started the first U.S. driverless taxi service in 2020, over a decade after it was born in 2009 as a project inside Google. While it gives paid rides to hundreds of people a week using Chrysler minivans, Waymo's service has not expanded beyond suburban Phoenix areas that cover about 50 square miles (129.5 square kilometers). [nL1N2R80CD]
Waymo in August started giving autonomous rides free of charge to a limited number of people in San Francisco with safety drivers on board, using its Jaguar electric vehicles equipped with sensors such as spinning lidars on the top.
Waymo needs to receive at least two more permits from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to start charging passengers for driverless rides in San Francisco.
Waymo declined to comment on whether it had applied for the permits.
Cruise already is giving fully driverless rides to employees and members of the public free of charge in San Francisco. The company is seeking CPUC approval for commercial driverless service, with a goal to get permitted this year.
Self-driving technology firms, which have attracted billions of dollars of investments, face challenges of scaling up their technology, after missing their earlier targets to launch commercial services.
Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Mark Porter and Richard Chang
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
FAQs
San Francisco is the only city in the world where two players are running driverless services for the public 24/7 — though both are limited in who can ride where, and Waymo isn't yet able to charge for rides. Other efforts in Arizona, Texas and China have more limited hours.
Is Waymo expanding? ›
We're significantly expanding our Waymo One ride-hailing service area in Metro Phoenix and growing in San Francisco to connect more communities and serve more riders.
Where does Waymo go in Phoenix? ›
Where you can go. Waymo One currently operates 24/7 across 225 square miles of Metro Phoenix. Let the Waymo Driver take the wheel from Downtown Phoenix, to Scottsdale, to the East Valley.
When did Waymo start in Phoenix? ›
Waymo began in May 2018 allowing some early riders to hail a self-driving minivan without a human test driver behind the wheel. By December of that year, the company launched its commercial robotaxi service called Waymo One in Phoenix.
Can I ride in a Waymo car? ›
Up to four passengers can ride at a time. We'll let you know when your car is ready. Unlock the door with the app and buckle up.
How many people can ride in Waymo? ›
How many people can ride in one of your vehicles? Our Waymo One vehicles can currently accommodate up to 4 riders (in any seat but the driver's seat!). Learn more in our Help Center.
What is the Waymo expansion plan for Phoenix? ›
The company also plans to grow its Phoenix-area fleet with an unspecified number of vehicles. The expansion connects a 40-square-mile coverage area and a 50-square-mile coverage area, creating a 180-square-mile service zone. The area now includes most of Tempe and parts of Old Town Scottsdale and Mesa.
Does Waymo pick up at Phoenix airport? ›
Waymo now offers airport pick-up and drop-off location no matter where you're headed in the metro area. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport served more than 44 million passengers last year, or more than 120,000 per day, a significant commercial opportunity for Waymo's growing operations.
How many driverless cars does Waymo have? ›
Waymo's 25,000 virtual self-driving cars travel 8 million miles per day. By October 2018, Waymo had completed 10 million miles of driving on public roads and over 7 billion simulation miles, and by January 2020, 20 million miles of driving on public roads had been completed.
Are there driverless Ubers in Phoenix? ›
Waymo is making its driverless vehicles available to Uber in Phoenix five years after the two companies spent millions of dollars battling each other in court.
Those individuals are now able to ride in Waymo's fully driverless vehicles in downtown Phoenix. One of the first riders to experience these “rider only” vehicles was Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, who said in a video produced by Waymo that she hopes the service will make Phoenix a “more inclusive city.”
What are Waymo cars in AZ? ›
Yes, but: Waymo, the former Google self-driving car project, is widely considered one of, if not the most advanced autonomous vehicle companies in the world. The company has been operating a paid, rider-only robotaxi service that's been open to the public in the Phoenix area since 2020.
How much does Waymo ride cost? ›
For cost comparison, the WAYMO charge for a 15 minute ride (about 3 miles) is $7.60, whereas the comparable LYFT charge is $7.20.
How much did Uber pay Waymo? ›
Waymo will receive a financial settlement that includes 0.34% of Uber's equity based on a $72bn valuation, putting the reward at about $245m. In a statement, Uber's CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, said his job included “correcting mistakes of the past.
Which cities does Waymo operate in? ›
Waymo currently operates “a couple hundred” self-driving cars in each of its Waymo One service areas, limited to Phoenix and San Francisco, with testing taking place in Austin and Los Angeles. Waymo has clarified that it will not exclusively allocate vehicles to Uber.
Are there self-driving cars in San Francisco? ›
Robotaxis began operating in San Francisco in June 2022, but many services have since expanded across the U.S. In May, Waymo doubled its operations in Arizona, creating what the company claims is the largest fully autonomous service area in the world.
Is Waymo available in the Bay Area? ›
Optimistically described as a “milestone” by CPUC, the agreement gave Waymo the green light to autonomously drive passengers throughout San Francisco and stretches of Daly City, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto and Sunnyvale for free test rides.
Where is Waymo office in San Francisco? ›
Waymo has signed a direct lease for 78,000 square feet at 555 Market Street, making a permanent commitment to San Francisco's Financial District after signing a sublease for the space with former competitor Uber in 2021.
Is Waymo using its self-driving taxis? ›
It's a reality right now on the streets of San Francisco and Phoenix where Waymo currently operates a fleet of fully autonomous taxis. The company, which was spun out of Google, says the service is coming soon to Los Angeles. To get a car, you download an app and request a ride, similar to Uber or Lyft.
