Waymo Brings Robotaxi Service to San Francisco Streets
Waymo kicks off its Trusted Tester program in San Francisco, offering free robotaxi rides in all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs to a select group of vetted riders. The service operates 24/7 across several city neighborhoods with human safety operators still in the front seat.
Waymo launches its Waymo One Trusted Tester program in San Francisco, bringing its self-driving robotaxi service to the city for the first time. The company uses a fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs equipped with its fifth-generation Waymo Driver system, which relies on 20 million real-world miles and over 10 billion simulated miles of training data.
The program mirrors Waymo's earlier strategy in Phoenix, where it gradually transitioned early riders into a fully public ride-hailing service. Interested San Franciscans download the Waymo One app to apply, and the initial select group includes riders with diverse transportation needs, such as wheelchair accessibility requirements. Participants sign a nondisclosure agreement and provide detailed feedback in exchange for completely free rides.
These robotaxi rides cover an initial territory spanning neighborhoods like the Sunset, Richmond, Pacific Heights, Noe Valley, and the Castro, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Although the vehicles drive themselves, human safety operators sit in the front seat to monitor the experience and ensure safety as the company continues to refine its technology.