(Buzztimes24) – Waymo Launches Self-Driving Robotaxi Service in San Francisco, making its robotaxis available to all users after initially limiting access to a smaller group of riders. In a recent blog post, Waymo announced that nearly 300,000 people have signed up for their Waymo One service since the company opened its waitlist. This expansion comes after a period of testing, with Waymo officially launching commercial passenger operations in August.
“We are committed to a careful and responsible growth of our service,” Waymo stated in their blog post. “We work closely with city and state officials, as well as with first responders and advocates for road safety, to ensure that our service provides reliable, safe, and environmentally friendly transportation options that positively impact local communities.”
San Francisco is the second city to experience a citywide rollout of Waymo’s self-driving taxis, following Phoenix in 2020. Waymo One also operates in a limited capacity in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas. As of February, Waymo reported having approximately 700 vehicles in their Waymo One fleet, including around 300 cars serving the San Francisco area.
The rollout of driverless vehicles has not been without controversy in recent months. For instance, General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit paused all driverless operations in October following collisions that prompted investigations and the suspension of its licenses in California.
In contrast, Waymo has navigated with less controversy. The company maintains a significant public affairs operation and communicates closely with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and local emergency responders to address any concerns proactively.
Waymo, formerly part of Google’s X research division and renamed in 2016, has accumulated an impressive track record in autonomous driving technology. They reported covering about 20 million fully autonomous miles and facilitating nearly two million paid ride-hail trips as of their latest update. Specifically in San Francisco, riders alone have traveled approximately 3.8 million miles with Waymo vehicles as of the end of March.
With these expansions and milestones, Waymo continues to pioneer advancements in self-driving technology while emphasizing safety and community engagement as integral parts of their service offerings.
