Waymo Robotaxis Now Offer Freeway Rides and Full Bay Area Coverage

• Public riders can now access autonomous freeway trips in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Expanded Bay Area coverage includes full Peninsula access and curbside service at San Jose International Airport.

Waymo now offers freeway trips in autonomous vehicles across parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. The company plans to extend this to cities like Austin and Atlanta. Waymo riders can now take autonomous rides on longer routes, such as airport travel and regional trips.

Alongside freeway access, Waymo has widened its Bay Area reach, now serving the full stretch between San Francisco and San Jose. Riders can also get picked up directly at San Jose Mineta International Airport.

In an official newsroom post, the company says its freeway performance builds on millions of autonomous miles driven in real-world traffic and has been reinforced by testing and operational planning. Waymo also notes its ongoing collaboration with safety officials to ensure this next phase of service meets public standards for safety and reliability.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

This is a game-changer for widening the use cases of robotaxis. It's a huge win for Waymo, especially as it continues to dominate in the Bay Area. With the ability to connect the full Peninsula, the service becomes far more useful for everyday travel, not just short hops, but full commutes and airport runs.

Source: Waymo