Waymo, the autonomous vehicle technology company owned by Alphabet, is expanding its testing of driverless robotaxis to Los Angeles’ freeway system.
Starting Tuesday, the company announced it would begin deploying its fleet of robotaxis on major freeways, including Interstates 10, 110, 405, and 90.
See also: Waymo to Launch First Robotaxi Service Outside the U.S. in Tokyo, Starting 2025
Unlike previous tests, these robotaxis will operate without a human safety driver. Following the same path it has used in other cities, Waymo will initially offer access to the driverless vehicles to its employees, with plans to eventually open it up to the public. The move is seen as a crucial step toward integrating autonomous vehicles into urban transportation networks.
Freeways are an intrinsic part of the LA experience. To better serve our expansive 79-square-mile service area, we’re beginning to provide our employees with access to fully autonomous rides on LA freeways—a key step toward expanding this capability to all riders. pic.twitter.com/oWqVQ1hlJz
— Waymo (@Waymo) January 28, 2025
Waymo’s push to include freeways in its operational territory is key to its success in large cities like Phoenix and Los Angeles. Freeways often provide the quickest routes, which could give Waymo an edge over traditional ride-hailing services. For example, a trip from Santa Monica Pier to the Broad could be 50% faster by utilizing Interstate 10, the company noted.
See also: Waymo Valued Over $45 Billion After Latest Funding Round Amid Robotaxi Expansion
Waymo has been mapping Los Angeles since 2019, covering neighborhoods such as downtown, Miracle Mile, Koreatown, and Santa Monica. In 2022, the company revealed that Los Angeles would be one of its next markets for commercial robotaxi services, following Phoenix and San Francisco.
The company received approval in March 2024 from the California Public Utilities Commission to operate its robotaxi service in Los Angeles, as well as in the expanded Bay Area region.