Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service Across Silicon Valley and Beyond

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Alphabet, has announced a significant expansion of its robotaxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area. The expansion covers 27 additional square miles, including key areas of Silicon Valley such as Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and parts of Sunnyvale. This move follows Waymo’s official public launch in San Francisco in June, marking another step in its growing dominance in the autonomous ride-hailing sector. The company has already achieved a major milestone, surpassing 200,000 weekly paid rides in its self-driving revolution, further solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.

Initially, the service will be available exclusively to Waymo One app users residing within designated ZIP codes. However, the company plans to broaden access over time, allowing more riders to experience its fully autonomous, driverless transportation.

Waymo’s Chief Product Officer, Saswat Panigrahi, highlighted the significance of this expansion:

"Opening our fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Silicon Valley marks a special milestone in our Bay Area journey. This is where Waymo began and where we’re headquartered."

The company’s fleet consists of fully electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, equipped with its latest fifth-generation self-driving technology. These vehicles utilize an advanced sensor system and artificial intelligence to navigate urban environments without human intervention.

Beyond California, Waymo is aggressively expanding nationwide. On March 4, it extended its partnership with Uber, further strengthening its presence in key markets. Additionally, discussions are underway with San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to enable autonomous drop-offs and pickups. Future expansions are planned for Atlanta this summer, with Miami expected to follow.

”Waymo’s continued expansion reflects its ambition to lead the driverless transportation industry, outpacing competitors like Tesla and Amazon’s Zoox.”