**Waymo Announces Expansion of Robotaxi Services to San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit**
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company under Alphabet Inc., has announced plans to launch its commercial robotaxi services in three major U.S. cities: San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit. This marks a significant expansion for the company, which is accelerating efforts to bring its fully driverless technology to a wider audience across the country. The announcement reflects Waymo’s ambition to rapidly scale up its operations and cement its position at the forefront of the autonomous ride-hailing industry.
Currently, Waymo operates its driverless taxi services in five major metropolitan areas: the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta. These cities have served as testbeds and launchpads for Waymo’s advanced self-driving technology, allowing the company to gain valuable experience and refine its systems in diverse urban environments. The company has also expressed intentions to expand to other key cities, including Boston, Seattle, Denver, Miami, New York City, and Washington, DC. However, it faces regulatory hurdles and some local opposition, particularly in cities like Boston and Seattle, where community and government concerns about safety and traffic implications remain unresolved.
While Waymo has not provided a specific timeline for when customers in San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit can begin using its robotaxi services, the company indicated that commercial operations are likely to commence sometime next year. Before launching in these new markets, Waymo must navigate a complex web of regulatory requirements. In California, where Waymo is already licensed for autonomous ride-hailing, the company has met the necessary state standards. However, in Nevada and Michigan, additional approvals are required before fully driverless vehicles can operate commercially.
Specifically, in Michigan, Waymo will need to obtain a Transportation Network Company permit, a crucial step for ride-hailing operators in the state. In Nevada, the company must secure testing approval from both the Department of Motor Vehicles and the state’s transportation authority before it can begin commercial operations. According to Waymo spokesperson Sandy Karp, the company is committed to following its established safety framework and validation processes in each new city. "We’ll follow our safety framework and serve riders in these cities when we’ve properly validated our technology and obtained the necessary permissions, with the intentions to open our doors to riders next year," Karp stated in an email.
As part of its expansion, Waymo will also be introducing new vehicles into its fleet. In addition to the familiar Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs that currently make up much of Waymo’s operating fleet, the company plans to deploy the Zeekr RT, a purpose-built autonomous vehicle manufactured by Geely, a major Chinese automaker. The Zeekr RT will be equipped with Waymo’s 6th generation self-driving technology, which the company claims is more cost-efficient and better suited for large-scale commercial operations. This move is expected to enhance both the rider experience and the operational efficiency of Way