Waymo will handle relations with local governments, first responders, rescue and crisis response, mapping the city, adapting vehicles to its peculiarities, testing and certifying safety, maintaining the software and hardware, and rider support and remote operations. The local providers will handle charging, general maintenance, cleaning, and other non-robotaxi fleet operations. The Miami service will use the Waymo One ride-hail app, unlike in Austin and Atlanta where they will use the Uber app.
Key takeaways:
- Waymo, Alphabet’s robotaxi unit, plans to deploy its robotaxis and “Waymo One” ride-hail service in Miami, with testing in 2025 and opening to riders in 2026.
- In Miami and Phoenix, Waymo will partner with Nigerian mobility enabler Moove to manage local logistics, including depots, fleet management and charging of the electric Jaguar i-Pace 5th generation Waymo robotaxis.
- Waymo plans to build an ecosystem of partners, and their current Uber partnership for logistics will be in Atlanta and Austin.
- Miami is a good robotaxi market, with no snow and manageable streets, though it is famous for daily heavy rain and occasional very severe weather events all the way up to hurricanes. Waymo will need to develop protocols for things like emergency storm evacuation for Florida.