Alphabet’s Waymo announced on Wednesday that it will be launching its driverless robotaxi services to a select group of individuals in Los Angeles, starting Thursday. This move comes after receiving approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to kickstart its ride-hailing program, Waymo One, in Los Angeles and other nearby cities close to San Francisco.
Waymo’s latest initiative positions the company ahead of its competitor Cruise, which is owned by General Motors. Cruise recently faced a setback as it lost its license to operate in California following an incident where a driverless car dragged a pedestrian 20 feet after an accident. Waymo aims to cover a significant area of 63 square miles, stretching from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles, offering free initial rides to the public.
In a blog post, Waymo expressed their intention to gradually introduce riders to their service, starting with the 50,000+ individuals on their waitlist in L.A. Additionally, Waymo plans to distribute temporary codes at local events throughout the city. As the operations expand, Waymo will transition to paid services in the upcoming weeks.
Previously, Waymo launched autonomous services for their employees in Austin, Texas, marking the fourth city where they offer autonomous ride-hailing services, along with San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. The company intends to introduce Waymo One to the wider public in Austin later this year, showcasing their commitment to expanding and transforming the future of transportation services.
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