Self-driving technology company Waymo said it has begun early preparations to launch its service in Portland, Oregon, starting with manually driven vehicles mapping the city’s streets.
The company said its vehicles began operating on public roads this week with human drivers behind the wheel to collect data and familiarize its autonomous system, known as the Waymo Driver, with local conditions.
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“Portland has always been a pioneer in urban design, balancing its independent spirit with a deep commitment to sustainable, forward-thinking living,” Waymo said in a statement. “This unique blend of innovation and community makes it the perfect place for Waymo’s next chapter.”
The initial phase will see vehicles navigate a range of environments, including downtown corridors, residential neighborhoods, and the city’s network of bridges. The mapping process is designed to help the system adapt to Portland-specific challenges such as wet weather, dense infrastructure, and varied traffic patterns.
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“Starting today, we’ll begin manually driving our vehicles to help familiarize the Waymo Driver with Portland’s distinct streetscapes — from its iconic bridges to its bustling, rain-slicked corridors,” the company said. “By following our rigorous safety framework, we aim to eventually provide both lifelong residents and first-time visitors with a safe, reliable, and stress-free way to move through the city.”
Waymo said the service could also support local safety initiatives. “Bringing Waymo to Portland means supporting the city’s ambitious Vision Zero goals to eliminate traffic fatalities,” the company said, adding that its system has demonstrated a “13x reduction in serious injury crashes” in areas where it operates.
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, currently runs commercial autonomous ride-hailing services in multiple U.S. cities, including Phoenix and San Francisco, and is continuing to expand into additional markets.
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The company has been scaling its operations in recent months. In March, Waymo said it is now providing around 500,000 paid robotaxi rides per week across 10 U.S. cities, marking a milestone in its commercial rollout. Earlier in February, Waymo began deploying the sixth generation of its autonomous driving system as part of efforts to expand fully driverless services. A separate report indicated that Hyundai Motor may supply tens of thousands of electric vehicles for Waymo’s fleet.
Also in February, Waymo said it had secured $16 billion in new funding commitments to support the continued expansion of its robotaxi operations.
However, a timeline for commercial deployment in Portland remains unclear. Legislative efforts to regulate autonomous vehicles, including House Bill 4085, did not pass during the most recent session, though discussions are ongoing, according to the company.