Well, Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., had some pretty big news last week! The California Public Utilities Commission just signed off on their plan to roll the commercial robotaxi service deeper into Silicon Valley. This expansion will more than double Waymo’s operational service area. Currently, it only extends over 85 square miles, which includes all of San Francisco and parts of the Peninsula.
The expanded service will include driverless rides for paying customers in several Silicon Valley cities, notably parts of Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Sunnyvale. With this approval, Waymo aims to integrate its autonomous vehicle technology into more communities located south of San Francisco, increasing accessibility for residents.
Today, Waymo serves the public with a fully commercial robotaxi service in San Francisco. Their driverless rides have garnered national and international attention and accolades. The company uses Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to deliver these rides, showcasing a dedication to sustainability and innovation. Waymo has dominated the press in all of the most influential outlets. These accolades from Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review, and CBS Interactive all highlight its innovations and leadership in the autonomous driving space.
The expansion will greatly increase service opportunities available to their users. Waymo has been clear that its vehicles won’t drive on their own at the San Francisco International Airport. Waymo employees will take the wheel and get behind the vehicles’ steering wheel themselves. By putting the airport area on these maps, they’re making it much harder in the future to access this vital transportation hub.
This smart move is a clear indicator of Waymo’s intentions to continue to grow their presence in the emerging, lucrative robotaxi market. With driverless technology in breakneck development, the company is set to be an important player in a revolution to reimagine urban mobility.
