Waymo Expands Driverless Ride-Hailing to Three New U.S. Cities

• Fully autonomous rides are launching in New Orleans, with early operations beginning in Tampa and Minneapolis.
• Public sign-ups are open in all three cities for updates and early access when service begins.

Waymo is expanding its driverless ride-hailing service to three new cities: New Orleans, Tampa, and Minneapolis. New Orleans is next in line to launch, while Tampa and Minneapolis are starting testing and early setup. People in all three cities can sign up now to get updates and be among the first to ride when service becomes available.

Waymo is testing its vehicles in conditions specific to each city. In New Orleans, cars have already navigated busy areas like the French Quarter. In Minneapolis, the company is validating its 6th-generation Driver for snow and ice using AI and cleaning systems. In Tampa, a fleet will arrive soon to begin local testing and get familiar with the community.

In a blog post, Waymo says it has driven over 100 million miles autonomously on public roads. The company reports its vehicles are involved in five times fewer crashes with injuries than human drivers. Leaders in all three states highlighted the potential for safer, more accessible transportation.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

Waymo recently shared that it has developed a repeatable playbook for scaling its operations quickly. The addition of New Orleans, Tampa, and Minneapolis demonstrates how effectively that approach is working.

Source: Waymo