Alphabet-owned self-driving technology company Waymo opens the public edition of its robotaxi service today, the company’s largest operational deployment to date. The Waymo One free autonomous vehicle service is now available to residents and visitors across nearly 80 square miles of Los Angeles-key areas include downtown LA, Santa Monica, and Venice-through the Waymo app. This launch closes one previous waitlist that had more than 300,000 users ready to access the service.
The service will serve over 3.8 million people in Los Angeles, marking the third city where Waymo is launching its full-fledged robotaxi service. It follows earlier expansions this year in San Francisco and in Phoenix, where the service went live in 2020. “We’re thrilled to welcome all of Los Angeles to the Waymo One experience,” said Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo. “Our service has matured rapidly, and we are excited to offer LA residents the benefits of fully autonomous rides.”
The launch is a significant step in Waymo’s rapid expansion, fueled by a recent $5.6 billion funding round in October. This capital is enabling the company to increase its fleet of autonomous vehicles and extend its reach across U.S. cities. Waymo now offers more than 150,000 paid rides a week across the three cities in which it is currently operational, compared with 100,000 in August.
Another key growth in the US for Waymo is strategic partnerships to enhance its service offerings. The company recently unveiled its strategy to extend its future service with Uber for a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, set to debut in 2025. In another partnership, Waymo partnered with Hyundai to introduce the South Korean automaker’s Ioniq 5 electric vehicles to its growing fleet.
The rides have turned out to be very popular, especially among those who want safety and convenience. It has gained much popularity because it ensures not to expose customers to human drivers who may pose serious threats – threats that women in particular do not like to be exposed to. Parents also use the services seeking good transportation for their children. Thus, Waymo is solidifying its position in the automation of transport.
