Robotaxi service Waymo to launch in Washington, D.C.
Waymo’s fully electric vehicles, currently the Jaguar I-PACE, can be conveniently ordered via the app and do not require a driver. This is why Waymo calls it a fully autonomous ride-hailing service. The Waymo cars drive according to Level 4, which means that they are allowed to drive autonomously within a pre-defined area that has been fully mapped beforehand. A new vehicle was developed together with Zeekr, but has not started series production yet.
Accordingly, Waymo has to prepare the launch in each new city with a long lead time, including the US capital. This not only involves mapping the driving area, but also liaising with authorities and emergency services such as the fire brigade and police to ensure that the robotaxis do not hinder them. Legal matters also need to be clarified: “We’ll also continue to work closely with policymakers to formalize the regulations needed to operate without a human behind the wheel in the District,” the company wrote on its blog.
Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana says: “Waymo One is making fully autonomous driving a reality for millions of people across the U.S. We’re excited to bring the comfort, consistency, and safety of Waymo One to Washingtonians, those who work and play in the city every day, and the millions of people from around the world who travel to the District every year.”
Waymo is already active in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Austin. More than 200,000 journeys per week are already booked via the company’s own Waymo One app. In Austin, however, bookings are now being made exclusively via the ride-hailing service Uber after a trial period. Atlanta and Miami (together with Moove) are planned as the next operating areas, and tests will be launched in Japan this year.
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