Waymo Launches Rider Testing Program for Self-Driving Taxis in San Francisco
Waymo invites San Francisco residents to test its self-driving Jaguar I-Pace taxis through a new Trusted Tester program. Safety drivers remain behind the wheel during the free rides as the company gathers valuable user feedback.
Waymo invites San Francisco residents to sign up as "Trusted Testers" for its self-driving taxi service. Participants use the Waymo One app to request rides in the company's fleet of Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles. The program focuses on collecting research data and user feedback, with a specific emphasis on improving the accessibility of the ride experience.
Unlike its fully driverless operations in Arizona, Waymo keeps human safety drivers in the vehicles for this San Francisco rollout. These employees ensure the fifth-generation Waymo Driver technology navigates the city's complex hills and one-way streets safely. All rides during this testing phase are completely free for the invited passengers.
This expansion into a new major market arrives shortly after the announcement that CEO John Krafcik is leaving the company. Some critics previously viewed Krafcik as overly cautious in commercializing the autonomous technology. Waymo plans to start with a small group of initial riders and gradually welcome more San Franciscans in the coming weeks.