Waymo Announces Autonomous Vehicle Launch in Austin, Texas

Waymo introduces fully autonomous vehicles in Austin. However, the general public will have to wait a while before experiencing rides in Google's driverless cars, as the service is initially limited to Waymo employees.

(Photo : JASON HENRY/AFP via Getty Images)

A Waymo autonomous vehicle on Steiner Street in San Francisco, on November 17, 2023.

Introducing Waymo in Austin

Starting tomorrow, Waymo will roll out its self-driving cars in Austin, marking a significant step toward making the service available to the general public.

These autonomous vehicles will cover around 43 square miles of Austin, including neighborhoods like Barton Hills, Riverside, East Austin, Hyde Park, and downtown.

The company hasn't specified when residents of Austin can expect autonomous rides. Once operational, Austin will become the fourth city, after Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, where Waymo's driverless cars are officially in service.

Saswat Panigrahi, the Chief Product Officer of Waymo expressed enthusiasm about the commencement of driverless operations in Austin starting tomorrow.

Emphasizing the impressive performance of the Waymo Driver following extensive testing, this milestone signifies a significant advancement towards the launch of their ride-hailing service in the fourth city.

This development follows closely on the heels of Waymo's recent authorization to charge for rides in extended regions spanning Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Waymo's robotaxis received the green light from the California Public Utilities Commission to expand its operations into more counties surrounding major cities, broadening its coverage area beyond urban hubs and into the heart of Silicon Valley.

Waymo's Connection with Austin, Texas

The Verge reported that Austin, Texas became Waymo's fourth city for its robotaxi service last August, marking a significant move for the Alphabet-owned self-driving company. The company's approach involved initial manual testing, followed by supervised testing, fully autonomous driving, and eventually, passenger services.

Waymo has been conducting tests on Austin streets since March 2023, laying the groundwork for the future launch of its commercial ride-hailing service.

Waymo's connection with the city dates back to October 2015 when it provided a 10-minute ride to a blind man named Steve Mahan in its prototype Firefly vehicle, which lacked traditional driving controls.

Amidst challenges faced by competitors in the autonomous ride-hailing sector, Waymo presses ahead with the expansion of its program, Waymo One.

While GM's Cruise is under scrutiny for its handling of a pedestrian crash, and Ford-backed Argo AI has ceased operations, Waymo's steady progress stands out. Additionally, several Chinese autonomous vehicle startups have scaled back or halted testing in the United States.

Waymo faced its own challenges recently, as reported by TechCrunch. In San Francisco, one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a collision with a cyclist, prompting an investigation by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Moreover, the company recalled its autonomous software following two incidents in the Phoenix area where Waymo vehicles collided with the same towed truck late last year.