Waymo launches autonomous ride-hailing service in San Francisco, expanding access and success

From Investing.com: 2024-06-25 20:16:00

Alphabet’s Waymo launches Waymo One autonomous ride-hailing service in San Francisco, open to everyone after successful similar service in Phoenix. Despite regulatory concerns, driverless vehicles are expected to drive commercial success for automakers. Over 300,000 people already signed up for the service in the city.

Waymo started testing autonomous ride service in San Francisco in 2021 with technicians on board for all rides. Now, anyone can request a ride on the app without being on a waitlist. The company previously opened access to everyone in Phoenix, Arizona in 2020. Waymo is a pioneer in self-driving technology.

In March, California approved Waymo to start Waymo One in Los Angeles and neighboring cities. Rivals like Cruise and Zoox, backed by General Motors and Amazon, respectively, are racing to succeed in autonomous driving technology. There have been concerns raised about the performance of Waymo’s self-driving vehicles by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.



Read more at Investing.com: Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service now available to all in San Francisco By Reuters