Waymo Launches Fully Driverless Ride-Hailing Service to Phoenix Public
Waymo opens its fully driverless vehicles to all Waymo One riders in the Phoenix metro area, marking a major milestone for autonomous transportation.
Waymo opens its fully driverless ride-hailing service to the public in the Phoenix metro area, marking a major milestone five years after its first autonomous street ride. The company transitions from early, limited testing to offering 100% driverless rides to existing Waymo One members, completely removing the human vehicle operator from the front seat.
This achievement stems from years of steady technological progress since the original slow-moving Firefly vehicle navigated Austin streets in 2015. Waymo now deploys a highly sophisticated fourth-generation driver system inside full-size Chrysler Pacifica hybrids, allowing these autonomous cars to safely handle high-speed roads across a service territory larger than San Francisco.
Riders currently enrolled in the Waymo One program immediately gain access to these fully driverless vehicles and can share the experience with friends and family. Over the coming weeks, Waymo plans to welcome additional users directly through its mobile app as it scales up this groundbreaking public service.