Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company owned by Alphabet, is now offering its robotaxi services to everyone in San Francisco. This significant milestone comes after the company spent several months working through a waitlist. Waymo has had government approval to operate paid driverless cars in the city since last August, and it has been steadily increasing its fleet to meet the demand.
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Previously, Waymo’s robotaxi services were available only to Waymo One members and their invitees. However, the service has now been expanded to anyone in San Francisco who downloads the Waymo app on their iOS or Android device. This expanded access positions Waymo as the leading autonomous vehicle company in California, especially following the exit of its competitor, Cruise.
Cruise, another autonomous vehicle company, had a controversial departure from California after an incident where one of its driverless cars dragged a pedestrian 20 feet and failed to report the accident accurately to regulators. In contrast, Waymo has been consistent in its approach to autonomous driving, even though it has faced its own set of challenges.
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Waymo’s cars have driven over 3.8 million driverless miles in San Francisco, with the company claiming that its vehicles complete ‘tens of thousands of weekly trips’ in the city. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Waymo’s fleet in the city has grown to about 300 cars, up from around 250 cars in January of this year. Despite the wider availability of its services, Waymo reportedly does not have immediate plans to aggressively expand its fleet size in San Francisco.
San Francisco is the second city where Waymo has made its robotaxi services available to the general public, following Phoenix. The company initially launched its service in Phoenix in 2020, where it was exclusive to Waymo One members. Two years later, the service was opened to everyone in the city, setting the stage for the broader rollout in San Francisco.
While Waymo has had some bumps along the way, including a recent software update following an incident where a driverless car hit a telephone pole in Phoenix, the company continues to advance its technology. Earlier this year, an unusual event was reported where two Waymo robotaxis made contact with the same backward-facing pickup truck being towed. The company later explained that the software had mistakenly predicted the truck’s movements due to an orientation mismatch.
Despite these challenges, the expansion of Waymo’s services to the general public in San Francisco marks a significant step forward for autonomous vehicles. Residents and visitors in San Francisco can now experience the convenience and innovation of driverless rides by using the Waymo app to book a ride. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices, making it easy for users to hail a Waymo robotaxi at their convenience.
The broader rollout in San Francisco not only enhances Waymo’s presence in the autonomous vehicle market but also highlights its commitment to providing a safer, more accessible transportation option. By continually refining its software and expanding its services, Waymo is paving the way for the future of driverless transportation.
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