Waymo to Launch Robotaxi Services in San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit
Waymo has unveiled plans to expand its driverless robotaxi services into three new cities: San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit, marking a significant milestone in the company’s ambitious growth strategy. The Alphabet subsidiary has confirmed that residents of Detroit will soon witness Waymo vehicles navigating their streets as the company commences initial mapping of service areas prior to a full public launch.
In Las Vegas, Waymo will include key tourist destinations on the Strip in its service area, with eventual plans to extend operations to the local airport. The timeline for introducing services in San Diego remains less defined, with Waymo indicating intentions to start operations sometime next year.
Currently, Waymo provides services in major urban centers including Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Austin, while recently announcing forthcoming expansions into Miami and Washington, D.C. Additionally, the company is eyeing international opportunities, with a launch in London planned for next spring, coinciding with the UK’s Automated Vehicles Act of 2024, which will permit autonomous vehicles to operate within the country for the first time.
Key highlights of Waymo’s expansion:
- Cities of Expansion: San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit
- Current Operations: Existing services in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta, Austin, with expansions into Miami and Washington, D.C.
- International Plans: London launch scheduled for spring 2024
- Partnerships: Collaborating with DoorDash for food delivery services in Phoenix
As the autonomous taxi industry heats up, Waymo will face competition from Tesla’s Robotaxi service, which is expected to expand in Austin and San Francisco, as well as a partnership between Uber and Lucid aimed at launching autonomous taxi services in the Bay Area next year using the Lucid Gravity SUV.
