Waymo Discontinues Queue, Makes Autonomous Taxis Accessible to All in Los Angeles
Alphabet's robotaxi service, Waymo, officially scrapped its waitlist of roughly 300,000 individuals and is now accessible to anyone sporting a smartphone in Los Angeles, as per a statement on their website on Tuesday. People in LA seeking a driverless taxi can download the Waymo One app starting now, further indicating that robotaxis are inching closer to being a common sight on American streets.
Waymo is currently operating in Los Angeles County, covering an area from Santa Monica in the west to downtown Los Angeles in the east, as evidenced by the service map below, sourced from the Waymo One app. The company has mentioned intentions to extend beyond the present 79 square miles, but a specific timeline remains elusive.
Waymo is already prominent in San Francisco and Phoenix, while public rides in Austin and Atlanta are reportedly on the horizon.
Map demonstrating Waymo’s service area in Los Angeles. © Waymo
A crucial part of Waymo's marketing strategy is providing passengers with a sense of security and tranquility, free from human drivers. The company's press release features a testimonial from Tisha Janigan, founder of She is Hope, a charitable organization focusing on aiding single mothers.
"Riding with Waymo was an exceptional experience – smooth, secure, and truly awe-inspiring," said Janigan. "Upon taking solo trips and with some single mother families, we were astounded by the driverless technology's capabilities and the comfort it instilled. Access to Waymo could prove instrumental for the women we serve, presenting a non-judgmental, dependable transportation choice that prioritizes safety."
Waymo recently launched a YouTube promo video for the Los Angeles service extension.
However, like other robotaxi operators across the nation, Waymo has been met with controversy, including a collision with a cyclist earlier this year. Advocates of driverless cars assert they are indeed safer, while the issue of accountability in the event of catastrophic failures remains contentious.
Determining liability when disaster strikes – is it the car operator, the passenger merely tagging along, or neither? Remarkably, this dilemma has yet to be resolved to everyone's satisfaction. Yet, corporations like Waymo and competitors such as GM's Cruise and Amazon's Zoox continue to press forward, undeterred. Elon Musk's Tesla Cybercabs were unveiled with plenty of fanfare last month, though a realistic timeline for their deployment remains indeterminate.
Waymo prides itself on a 98% ride satisfaction rate, derived from some 150,000 daily rides nationwide. Moreover, 96% of riders report finding Waymo beneficial. The company appears enthusiastic about the future.
"It's an exhilarating moment to welcome everyone in Los Angeles to this exhilarating journey," said Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, in a press release. "Our service has advanced rapidly, and our riders have wholeheartedly embraced the numerous benefits of fully autonomous driving. We are deeply appreciative of our initial LA riders, and can't wait to serve more passengers soon."
The expansion of Waymo's autonomous taxi service in Los Angeles signifies a step towards making tech-driven vehicles a common sight in American cities. As Tekedra Mawakana, the co-CEO of Waymo, stated, "We are deeply appreciative of our initial LA riders, and can't wait to serve more passengers soon, cementing our commitment to the futuristic concept of tech-driven transportation."
Waymo's innovative technology and growing network, including plans for public rides in Austin and Atlanta, demonstrate its significant role in shaping the autonomous vehicle landscape of the near future.
