Waymo Expands Self-Driving Taxi Operations in the U.S.

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Alphabet, is set to enhance its lead in the U.S. self-driving taxi sector by broadening its operations into new cities. Currently, Waymo’s self-driving taxis are responsible for over 150,000 trips and cover more than one million kilometers each week with passengers, all without a human driver.

Waymo already operates in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and recently, Atlanta. However, specific details about the upcoming cities for expansion have not been revealed. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized that Waymo vehicles have quickly become integral to everyday life in Austin and Atlanta, partly due to a partnership with Uber Technologies that has accelerated growth.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk introduced a prototype for a fully autonomous electric taxi, with plans to begin production in 2026, targeting an output of around two million units annually. Unlike Waymo’s completely driverless taxis, Tesla’s offerings still require human drivers despite Musk’s promises of full autonomy.

Despite its advancements, Waymo faces challenges with profitability due to the high costs associated with safety technologies, such as sophisticated sensors for comprehensive environmental monitoring. In response, the company is working on a more cost-effective advanced driving system.