Waymo is now offering driverless rides on highways in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, making it the first robotaxi company in the US to do so. Starting Wednesday, some customers who opt into new services will be able to take trips that include freeway driving at any time of day.
This move marks a big step for Waymo, showing it is growing beyond just testing and moving toward full commercial service on highways. The company believes allowing its cars to use freeways will help it compete more effectively with traditional taxis and ride-hailing apps, which can already drive on highways. It also means faster and more direct trips for riders since the cars won’t have to avoid highways.
Waymo says it uses the same software and sensors for freeway driving as it does for city streets but has added extra training and testing to handle highway conditions safely. The cars are designed to keep up with regular traffic, traveling up to the speed limit, and if they need to pull over, they will look for the nearest safe place off the freeway.
Currently, Waymo runs about 1,000 vehicles in the San Francisco Bay Area, 700 in Los Angeles, 500 in Phoenix, 200 in Austin, and 100 in Atlanta. The freeway service will start with some users and expand over time, though the company hasn’t shared a timeline for adding highway routes in other cities.
Waymo is also growing its coverage around the Bay Area to include San Jose. This expansion includes service to San Jose International Airport, where Waymo cars will charge the same fee as other taxis. The company is also working with San Francisco International Airport, where it already has permission to test autonomous vehicles.
While other companies like Tesla and Chinese firm WeRide are testing highway self-driving or offering rides with safety drivers, Waymo stands out by rolling out driverless highway trips without a human behind the wheel. Tesla recently launched a self-driving taxi service in Austin that includes highway rides but still requires a human safety monitor.
Overall, Waymo’s new highway service is a major step in the robotaxi industry, aiming to provide more efficient rides and stay ahead in a growing market. The company doesn’t expect this service to add much to traffic congestion, signaling confidence in its technology and planning.