The announcement comes shortly after Waymo received permission to start charging for rides in expanded territories in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Although the company has not provided a timeline for when it will start offering autonomous rides to Austin's general public, it will be the fourth city where Waymo's robotaxis are officially in operation, following LA, San Francisco, and Phoenix.
Key takeaways:
- Waymo has announced plans to begin shuttling employees around 43 square miles of Austin, Texas, including several neighborhoods and downtown Austin.
- This move is seen as a crucial step before the company opens the program up to the public.
- Waymo recently won the ability to start charging for rides in expanded territory across Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
- While no timeline has been given, when Waymo starts offering autonomous rides in Austin, it will become the fourth city where the company's robotaxis are officially in operation, following LA, SF and Phoenix.