Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to expand its commercial robotaxi service area. This decision paves the way for Waymo to introduce its driverless ride-hailing vehicles to more communities located south of San Francisco. The company currently operates a commercial robotaxi service in San Francisco and parts of the Peninsula, as well as providing driverless rides in various Silicon Valley cities such as Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Sunnyvale. With an existing service area of approximately 85 square miles covering San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Waymo is looking to further expand its operations.
The recent approval from the CPUC allows Waymo to operate its fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in the South Bay and most of San Jose. Although this development does not immediately impact the company’s operations, Waymo is enthusiastic about the opportunity to extend its services. Additionally, Waymo has plans to gain access to the San Francisco International Airport, although this initiative is set for a longer timeline. In March, Waymo obtained permission to map roadways at SFO through a temporary permit. While Waymo vehicles will not operate autonomously at the airport, employees will manually drive the vehicles for mapping purposes. This signifies the initial steps toward Waymo’s eventual commercial operations at the airport. Currently, Waymo conducts 250,000 paid trips per week across its operations in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and recently in Austin.
Furthermore, Kirsten Korosec, a seasoned reporter and editor with extensive experience covering transportation and technology, has been at the forefront of reporting on various aspects of the industry for over a decade. Currently serving as the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of the popular TechCrunch Equity podcast, Kirsten is also a co-founder and co-host of “The Autonocast” podcast. Her previous work includes contributions to Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review, and CBS Interactive. Kirsten’s expertise in the field of transportation technology brings valuable insights to her reporting, making her a respected voice in the industry.
Not really sure why this matters, but the expansion of Waymo’s robotaxi service area signifies a significant step forward in the company’s mission to revolutionize the way we commute. With the approval from the CPUC, Waymo is poised to bring its driverless ride-hailing vehicles to more communities, offering a glimpse into the future of transportation. The company’s plans to access the San Francisco International Airport and expand its operations across various cities highlight its commitment to innovation and growth in the autonomous vehicle sector. As Waymo continues to push boundaries and explore new opportunities, the possibilities for a more connected and efficient transportation network seem endless.
