The move solidifies Waymo's position as a leader in the autonomous driving space, despite setbacks in the industry, including the suspension of operations by rival Cruise and the collapse of companies like TuSimple and Embark. In response to these issues, California lawmakers are calling for stricter regulations, including requirements for companies to share more detailed safety data and giving cities control over the issuance of permits for robotaxi services.
Key takeaways:
- Waymo, Alphabet Inc.’s self-driving vehicle unit, is launching its robotaxi service in Los Angeles, making it the third city to receive the service after Phoenix and San Francisco.
- The service will initially be free of charge and will gradually expand to include people who download the company’s ride-hailing app.
- Despite setbacks in the autonomous driving industry, Waymo remains a leader in the field, even as rivals like Cruise have faced significant challenges.
- Waymo's Los Angeles service will initially cover a 63-square mile portion of the city, and the company has plans to expand into Austin later this year.