Waymo has opened its fully autonomous robotaxi service to everyone across Los Angeles. Starting this week, Los Angeles residents and visitors can use the Waymo One app to hail a self-driving car anywhere within nearly 80 square miles, covering popular destinations such as Santa Monica, Hollywood Boulevard, and downtown LA.
This expansion makes Los Angeles Waymo’s largest service area to date and adds it to an exclusive list of cities, including Phoenix and San Francisco, where Waymo operates citywide.
Waymo’s growth has been impressive over the past year, driven by additional funding and a strong demand for autonomous ride-hailing. With Google-parent Alphabet leading a $5.6 billion funding round in October, Waymo has been able to scale its service, launching to the public in LA after a long waitlist of nearly 300,000 residents who initially showed interest when the company began operations in the city earlier this year.
“Now is an exciting time to welcome everyone in Los Angeles along for the ride,” said Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana. “Our service has matured quickly, and our riders are embracing the many benefits of fully autonomous driving. We’re grateful to our first riders in LA and can’t wait to serve even more.”
According to Waymo, recent surveys of LA users reveal that 98% are satisfied with the service, which also provides safety advantages by eliminating concerns over unfamiliar human drivers.
The expansion coincides with the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show, where Waymo will serve as the Official Ride-Hail Partner. Show attendees can learn about autonomous technology and experience Waymo’s rides first-hand.
Despite the excitement, Waymo cautions that with only around 100 autonomous vehicles in its LA fleet, the expanded service may mean longer waits during peak hours.
Waymo has also announced plans for Austin and Atlanta to begin service by the end of the year, while the next-generation robotaxi, a Geely Zeekr, is set to debut in 2025.
