Waymo robotaxi service opens to public in Los Angeles
Waymo said its vehicles are already serving more than 100,000 paid trips every week across its deployment sites. | Source: Waymo
Anyone in Los Angeles can now take fully autonomous rides with Waymo One. The company, whose service area covers Santa Monica, Hollywood Boulevard, USC, and everything in between, has removed its waitlist in the city and is open 24/7.
It’s only been about eight months since Waymo launched its limited robotaxi service in Los Angeles. In that time, nearly 300,000 people joined its waitlist. Waymo said these LA riders have taken hundreds of thousands of paid trips across the city, and given Waymo valuable feedback about its performance.
Waymo said its service has received an average 4.7 out of 5 star rating. Additionally, 98% of riders recently surveyed in LA said they are satisfied with the service and 96% find it useful.
“Now is an exciting time to welcome everyone in Los Angeles along for the ride,” said Tekedra Mawakana, the co-CEO of Waymo. “Our service has matured quickly and our riders are embracing the many benefits of fully autonomous driving. We’re so grateful to all of our first riders in LA, and we can’t wait to serve more riders soon.”
The self-driving unit of Alphabet has spent 2024 expanding its self-driving services across multiple cities, including in San Francisco and Phoenix, where it provides curbside service at Sky Harbor International Airport. In August, the company unveiled its 6th generation robotaxi, equipped with an optimized sensor suite for greater performance at a significantly reduced cost. Most recently, it brought in $5.6 billion in funding. Waymo also has a robotaxi service in Austin, but there’s a long waitlist, and the service isn’t yet open to everyone.
More about Waymo’s LA service
Riders can now traverse nearly 80 square miles of LA County, and Waymo intends to grow its service area to cover more of the city in the future. The company said it looks forward to welcoming many first-time riders and welcoming back those it has served over the last year, as it steadily scales its service over time just as we’ve done in San Francisco and Phoenix.
As it opens its doors to more people, Waymo is working closely with local community partners aligned with its mission to make roads safer and mobility more accessible. For example, Waymo is working with She is Hope, a non-profit dedicated to empowering single mothers in Los Angeles.
“Riding with Waymo was an incredible experience—smooth, safe, and truly impressive,” said Tisha Janigan, founder of She is Hope. “When I rode alone and with some of our single mother families, we were amazed by the driverless technology and the sense of comfort it provided. Access to Waymo could be a game-changer for women we serve, offering a nonjudgmental, reliable transportation option that prioritizes safety.”
While Waymo is a clear leader in the autonomous vehicle industry, there are a number of other companies hoping to breakthrough in the space. Amazon-subsidiary Zoox this week expanded its operation in California and Nevada. The company is now testing its robotaxis in San Francisco and expanded its Las Vegas geofence. Zoox is not offering public rides in either city yet, but it hopes to launch its Las Vegas operation in early 2025.
Additionally, Chinese firms have been bringing in large amounts of money to further develop their technology. Last week, DeepRout.ai brought in $100 million led by Chinese automotive manufacturer Great Wall Motor. While WeRide last month brought in $485.5 million from its initial public offering and private placement.
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