Waymo is currently the only commercial robotaxi company operating in the U.S., with competitors such as General Motors’ Cruise and Amazon’s Zoox aiming to enter the market. The company plans to shift to lower-cost hardware next year and begin using Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 EV in its fleet. As part of its expansion in L.A., Waymo is partnering with local groups promoting safety for women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Key takeaways:
- Waymo, Alphabet’s robotic taxi unit, is expanding its service in Los Angeles by eliminating a waiting list to download the app needed to hail its sensor-laden electric vehicles.
- The service is only available within an 80-square-mile portion running from downtown L.A. to Santa Monica, covering less than 20% of the city.
- Waymo is the only commercial robotaxi company operating in the U.S., with plans to launch in Austin this year and Atlanta in early 2025.
- As part of its L.A. expansion, Waymo is partnering with local groups that promote safety for women and the LGBTQ+ community, including She is Hope and the Los Angeles LGBT Center.