Alphabet’s Waymo announced on Tuesday that its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, is now fully available to the public in Los Angeles, marking another milestone in the deployment of self-driving technology.
This expansion comes on the heels of Waymo’s recent $5.6 billion funding round, reflecting a growing commitment by automakers and tech companies to the future of driverless transportation, despite regulatory hurdles.
LA … the day is finally here! Rides are now open to everyone in beautiful, sunny La-La Land. ✨No waitlists or invite codes required. Download and ride today → https://t.co/Oq3GtBJk2i pic.twitter.com/PDhxfSgSj5
— Waymo (@Waymo) November 12, 2024
Waymo reported high demand in Los Angeles, with nearly 300,000 individuals joining the waitlist since commercial operations began in the city earlier this year. “Our service has matured quickly, and our riders are embracing the many benefits of fully autonomous driving,” Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said, noting the company’s fast-paced growth across major U.S. cities. Waymo previously opened its ride-hailing service to the public in San Francisco in June 2023 and Phoenix, Arizona, in 2020.
The self-driving technology pioneer, founded over a decade ago within Google, launched the first U.S. driverless taxi service in 2020. The autonomous ride-hailing industry is becoming increasingly competitive, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk announcing plans to introduce driverless services in California and Texas next year.
Meanwhile, General Motors’ Cruise, which is resuming tests with human safety drivers after an accident, and Amazon’s Zoox, expanding testing of vehicles without steering wheels or pedals, are also in the race for market share.
