Alphabet-owned Waymo has received a permit to begin testing its robotaxi service at San Francisco International Airport, city officials and the company confirmed. The rollout will be conducted in phases, initially focusing on employee testing before expanding to include Bay Area riders. During the early phase, human operators will remain on board the vehicles to take control if necessary, eventually transitioning to a fully driverless service.
Waymo is already operational in parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and San Mateo County, where the airport is located, but had not previously been authorized to transport passengers to or from the airport. The company has expanded its service gradually across several regions, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Waymo was granted testing and operating permission in 2022, and it recently secured a permit to begin operations at San Jose Mineta International Airport.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie noted that Waymo could also operate a limited passenger service along Market Street, one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, where autonomous vehicles had previously faced restrictions. The move reflects growing confidence in the technology and regulatory adjustments to accommodate autonomous ride-hailing services in urban environments.
Waymo’s robotaxi program represents part of a broader effort to establish autonomous vehicle networks in key U.S. cities. The company combines advanced sensor systems, machine learning, and AI to navigate complex urban traffic environments, aiming to provide safe, efficient, and scalable transportation options.
Tesla is pursuing a similar strategy but has taken a more cautious approach in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company began testing its robotaxi service in Austin in June with human safety supervisors on board. While Tesla has permission to operate a paid car service in San Francisco, it has not yet received approval to run a fully driverless ride-hailing business. Tesla’s current vehicles are not certified to operate autonomously without a human ready to intervene, highlighting the regulatory and technological challenges still facing autonomous ride-hailing providers.
The expansion of Waymo’s service to San Francisco International Airport marks a significant milestone in the city’s adoption of autonomous vehicle technology. As testing progresses and human operators gradually transition out of the loop, the service could set the stage for wider deployment of driverless ride-hailing options across the region, offering residents and travelers new transportation alternatives while advancing the commercial viability of autonomous vehicles.
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