Waymo, the autonomous vehicle arm of Alphabet, has removed the waitlist for its self-driving service in Los Angeles, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion efforts. Starting Tuesday, residents of Los Angeles County can now access Waymo’s robotaxi service throughout nearly 80 square miles of the region. This development makes LA the third and largest city to offer Waymo’s fully operational robotaxi service, following San Francisco and Phoenix, where the service was launched earlier.
The company’s Waymo One app will now be available to all residents, including the 300,000 Angelenos who had previously been on a waitlist. This expansion is a significant step in Waymo’s mission to bring fully autonomous driving to more cities, and it underscores the rapid pace at which the technology is advancing. Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo’s co-CEO, expressed excitement about the new phase in LA, saying, “Our service has matured quickly and our riders are embracing the many benefits of fully autonomous driving.”
The growth of Waymo’s operations has been fueled by increased funding, including a substantial $5.6 billion investment round closed in October. This funding is helping the company accelerate the rollout of its self-driving services across the U.S. In addition to its expansion in Los Angeles, Waymo’s robotaxi service has seen impressive growth in ridership. The company now handles more than 150,000 paid rides per week across its three markets, a significant increase from 100,000 rides in August.
Waymo’s robotaxi fleet includes the next-generation Geely Zeekr vehicles, equipped with custom sensors and an AI “driver.” The company has also entered into strategic partnerships with other major players in the industry. For example, it announced a deal with Uber to launch its robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in 2025. In another significant move, Waymo has partnered with Hyundai to add the Ioniq 5 electric vehicle to its fleet.
The autonomous service has gained popularity among certain groups, including women with safety concerns about human drivers and parents looking for a reliable way to send their teens to school. As Waymo continues to expand, it is clear that self-driving technology is poised to reshape urban transportation across the U.S.
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