Waymo has announced the expansion of its robotaxi services to include highways and interstates around San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. This marks a significant milestone for the company, which is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet. Passengers can now travel on U.S. 101 from San Francisco to San Jose Mineta International Airport in driverless cars, with curbside drop-off and pick-up available at the airport. The service will gradually expand to other regions, including Austin and Atlanta, as well as additional airports like San Francisco International Airport.
The expansion covers a 260-square-mile area in the Bay Area, including Silicon Valley cities like Palo Alto and Mountain View. According to AP News, Waymo’s expansion into freeway operations is seen as a major step forward for the autonomous vehicle industry. Mykel Kochenderfer, director of the Stanford Intelligent Systems Laboratory, noted that while freeway driving is more predictable than city driving, the higher speeds increase the risk of accidents.
Waymo’s expansion comes after extensive testing and collaboration with safety officials. The company has been testing its driverless cars on Bay Area freeways since August 2024. NBC Bay Area reports that Waymo is currently the only ride-hailing company in California with a permit to operate autonomous vehicles without a safety driver.
Waymo’s expansion into freeway service is part of a broader trend in the autonomous vehicle industry, with competitors like Amazon and Tesla also developing their own driverless technologies. However, Waymo remains a leader in the field, having logged over 100 million driverless miles since 2019. The company aims to expand its services to Miami and Washington, D.C., in the near future.
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