Waymo is in a growing number of cities. Here’s what you know about Robotaxi service
Self -driving cars slowly get up Less scientific fiction and more real as companies as WaymoThe hassle of the company – the mother of Google, Alphabet, is expanding to more cities – and countries.
In April Weimo said he would start driving his transport funds on the streets of Tokyo, which does this to the company First international locationS Also partnered with Uber to provide robotaxes available via the Ride Hailing app in selected cities as Atlanta and Austin, Texas. And on Tuesday Weimo said it reached an advance agreement with Toyota To “explore cooperation” aimed at developing autonomous driving technologies, which could someday be included in personally owned vehicles.
Currently, Waymo operates completely autonomous rides for the general public in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. In January, the company announced it would also start testing with hand -operated vehicles in 10 new cities This year, starting with Las Vegas and San Diego. He plans to start offering vehicles in Washington, Colombia and Miami, beginning in 2026.
Autonomous rides are held on board of all -electric Jaguar I-PaceBut in October Waymo announced that it was Partnership with Hyundai to bring the next generation of their technology Ioniq 5 SUV. In the coming years, riders will be able to call on these all -electric, autonomous vehicles using the Waymo One app.
Waymo says it provides more than 200,000 paid trips every week. I welcomed a few vehicles in San Francisco and as much as it could, as much as it may seem at the beginning (especially to see how the steering wheel turned by itself), I quickly adjusted myself, and soon felt like a simple ride.
This does not mean that there were no discounts, as Waymo unfolds in more cities. The company’s vehicles participated in a handful of high -profile collisions including one with a motorist in San Francisco and another with a drawing pickup in Phoenix. ( recall and update your software To deal with the problem.) In response to concerns, Weimo says that in 14.8 million miles, his autonomous technology of the Waymo driver “was up to 3.5 times better when avoiding crashes and 2x better when avoiding police-reported crashes than human drivers in SFIs. He also released a Data hub Last year, he described in detail efforts to improve road safety using his technology.
While Waymo continues to expand and develop its self -control technology, here’s how to call Robotaxes if you are in one of the few cities where the company is currently managing its fleet.
Watch this: Testing a Waymo safe exit feature in self -driving fees
Phoenix
Phoenix was First city To open fully autonomous Waymo rides to society, in 2020 to ride, download The Waymo One Application of iOS or AndroidS The service works 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can also Use the Uber app To call one of Waymo’s vehicles in Phoenix. When you ask for Uberx, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric Ride, you will have the choice to confirm Waymo Ride if you are matching.
In addition to welcomingYou may have your own Uber eats a meal delivered by an autonomous carS When placing an order in the Phoenix area, you can get a note that “autonomous vehicles can deliver your order.” When the Waymo car arrives, take your phone with you to open the trunk and take your delivery. You can give up this during the cash register if you prefer a person to deliver your food.
Welcome in San Francisco
San Francisco followed the suit after Phoenix, unfolding Fully autonomous rides at the end of 2022.S It Disband the waiting list In June, so now anyone can download the Waymo One app to ride at any time. The service also works 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Currently in San Francisco, there is no Uber partnership.
In August Weimo extend your ride service In the San Francisco Peninsula, adding 10 square miles and embarking on Dai Da Dali, Broadmur and Colma. And in March, he expanded again to choose Waymo One Riders, who live in Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto and parts of Sunnyvale, have the ability to welcome robotaxes. The company says it plans to expand to more riders there in time.
Greetings to Los Angeles
In November Waymo, he rejects his waiting list for Los Angeles and started Greetings to all public riders through the Waymo One app. Now all interested passengers can jump in robotaxis 24/7 and ride in nearly 90 square miles from La County, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Inglewood And in the center of LA – with plans to expand in more areas soon.
ATIN
In Austin the only way to welcome Waymo’s ride is by uber – No Waymo One app here. By asking for Uberx, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric, you can compare yourself to Waymo vehicle – and you won’t be more bogged down. If you prefer not to ride without a driver, you will be able to move on to a standard. On the other hand, if you want to increase your chances of being compared to self -driving, you can go to Account > Settings > Autonomous vehicles, Then press the switch to Get more rides on WaymoS
Unlock the door, open the trunk, and start ride from the Uber app. You will still be asked to appreciate your trip at the end – but you will not be asked to target.
If there are any problems, riders can access human support 24/7 through the Uber application and inside the Waymo vehicle (there are front and rear screens that allow you to quickly call customer support).
As part of Uber’s partnership, Uber will manage tasks such as cleaning and repairing vehicles, while “Waymo will continue to be responsible for testing and operating the Waymo driver, including road assistance and some rider maintenance features,” the companies said. Cooperation must make autonomous rides available to more people who will not have to download a separate application now to get on Robotaxi.
Waymo is currently working 37 square miles from the city, with plans for future extensions.
Atlanta
As in Austin, Uber will soon allow the riders in Atlanta to welcome Waymo Robotaxi. The service is planned to start in the summer but interested riders can Join a waiting list To increase their chances of being compared to Waymo after this option becomes available.
To join the Atlanta Interest List, make sure your Uber app is up -to -date, then go to Account > Settings and find Autonomous vehicles under Ride Preference Menu. Then click Join the interest listS
Riders who join the list of interests may have the chance to ride Waymo before the public is released. They will be notified in the app by email if selected.
The service will start 65 square miles from Atlanta, with plans for future extensions, according to Uber. You won’t have to pay more for Waymo Ride than for standard Uberx, Uber Green, Uber Comfort or Uber Comfort Electric Ride and you will see pricing in the application. You can unlock the vehicle and start the trip from the Uber app and you will be able to access human support 24/7 through the Uber application and inside the vehicle.
Coming soon: Washington, Colombia, Miami and Tokyo
Waymo plans to start offering vehicles through its Waymo One app in Washington, Colombia County, in 2026. The company Returned to the nation’s capital In January to test his autonomous driving technique. At the end of March, he said he was carrying more vehicles in the city and working to scales his services throughout the year. In a Blog postWaymo said “will continue to work closely with politicians to formalize the regulations needed to work without a person behind the wheel in the area.”
You will also have to wait until 2026 to drive Waymo in Miami. The company has been Testing the time For this possible unfolding, noting in a Blog post“Our previous road trips to the challenging rainy conditions of Sunshine’s state were invaluable to progress in our autonomous driving opportunities.”
Waymo will cooperate with Moove, Fintech, which offers vehicle funding, first in Phoenix, where Moove will manage operations, facilities, facilities and infrastructure of Robotaxi. In Phoenix and then Miami, “Waymo will continue to offer our service through the Waymo One app and will remain responsible for the validation and operation of the Waymo driver,” said the company at A A Blog postS
Waymo’s TokyoWho was announced in December is happening in partnership with the Japanese taxi service Nihon Kotsu and Taxi App Go. In April, the self-government company said she was finally ready to go abroad.
Waymo says that Nihon Kotsu’s trained drivers will manually drive their vehicles through seven wards in Tokyo, including Mina, Shinju, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chiba, Chiba, Shinagawa and Kate. This will allow engineers to test and adapt autonomous Waymo driving technique to local road functions and traffic.
“In Tokyo, we adhere to the same steadfast principles that guide us in the US – a commitment to safety, dedication to earning confidence in the communities we work in, and cooperation with local employees and public groups here in Tokyo,” Nicole Gavel, the leader of Waymo and the business development, said.
It is unclear when riders will be able to get on self -driving with Waymo in Tokyo.
The Way Forward: Future Vehicles
In August Weimo revealed Sixth generation of his self -government technology, which seeks to expand the capabilities of his fleet without a driver. The more intelligent sensors are designed to help cars better move in extremely time, Weimo said. The sixth generation driver will come aboard the all -electric Zekr vehiclewhich has a flat floor, more head and legs, adjustable seats and movable steering wheel and pedals. The updated technology is still being tested, but the company says it will soon be available to riders.
In October Waymo also announced a Partnership with Hyundai To integrate its sixth -generation driver into the all -electric SUV Ioniq 5, which, according to a blog post, “will be added to the Waymo One fleet in time”. The companies added that they “plan to produce a fleet of Ioniq 5s, equipped with a considerable volume of Waymo technology in several years to support the growing scale of Waymo One.” Testing with these vehicles will begin by the end of 2025 and will become available “over the years.”
Currently, daily riders cannot take Waymo vehicle on highways and highways, but this may soon change. The company tests completely autonomous rides on Phoenix highwaysas seen in Exclusive video Shared with Cnet in May. In addition, it now provides fully autonomous rides on the highway available to Waymo employees In Los AngelesS
Waymo works to expand his autonomous driving equipment, but last year said it was the case Scales of these efforts For now, focus on ride with Waymo One. He noted: “Our constant investment in the advancing the capabilities of the Waymo driver, especially on the highways, will turn directly into cargo transportation and will take advantage of his efforts to develop.”
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