AI Generated Image
Waymo starts driverless rides in San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, Denver
CNBC • • business
Key Points:
- Waymo is expanding its driverless vehicle service to four new U.S. cities—San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Denver—initially offering rides to Alphabet employees before opening to the public.
- The company currently operates autonomous vehicles in over 10 cities and leads domestic competitors Tesla and Amazon-owned Zoox, which are also expanding their robotaxi services in select markets.
- As of May, Waymo's fleet includes about 4,000 robotaxis equipped with advanced fifth- and sixth-generation automated driving systems.
- Waymo faces operational challenges, including vehicles encountering flooded roads and battery issues during heavy traffic and events like Fourth of July celebrations.
- The company recently raised $16 billion and plans to launch its first international service in London later this year, aiming to reach 1 million weekly autonomous trips by year-end.
