Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, has announced plans to test its self-driving taxis in Atlanta, Georgia, this summer. The expansion comes as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to evaluate its autonomous Waymo Driver technology in diverse environments and new settings.
This move follows winter testing in Buffalo, New York, and spring assessments in Washington D.C., as part of Waymo’s cross-country road trip program. The program aims to test the self-driving taxis in regions beyond its current operating areas, which include Phoenix in Arizona, San Francisco and Los Angeles in California, and Austin in Texas.
Winter in Buffalo ❄️🦬, Spring in DC 🌸🏛️, and summer in Atlanta ☀️🍑!
We’re taking the #WaymoDriver to the ATL as we continue evaluating how our system generalizes to different environments and new experiences. Read about our cross-country training program:… pic.twitter.com/ORNxAbjJ3A
— Waymo (@Waymo) April 16, 2024
In Atlanta, Waymo will initially deploy a few self-driving taxis operated by humans, not available to the public. These vehicles will gather mapping data and familiarize themselves with the local environment. Once the taxis are acclimated, they will operate autonomously, with human specialists providing feedback to Waymo’s engineering teams.
Waymo’s goal is to eventually offer a fully driverless operation in Atlanta, pending regulatory approval. Georgia currently has minimal restrictions for testing autonomous vehicles, making it an attractive location for Waymo’s expansion efforts.
The expansion into Atlanta highlights Waymo’s continued progress in the self-driving technology space, especially compared to its chief rival, General Motors’ Cruise. Cruise recently faced setbacks, including a suspension of operations and a reduction in investment following an accident in San Francisco in October.
Waymo, on the other hand, has steadily advanced its self-driving initiatives. The company has increased its activity at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, conducted driverless tests on the city’s highways, expanded coverage areas in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and recently started accepting fares in LA for the first time.
