Waymo One Expands Fully Autonomous Rides to Los Angeles and Austin
Waymo announces plans to operate its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in four major cities by the end of this year, with immediate public launches starting in Los Angeles and Austin.
Waymo brings its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to Los Angeles starting March 14, with plans to expand to Austin later this year. The company shares this expansion news at SXSW, highlighting that autonomous driving is now a regular mode of transportation for tens of thousands of riders weekly. By the end of 2024, Waymo One operates in a total of four major cities.
In Los Angeles, Waymo offers initial rides for free across a 63 square mile area stretching from Santa Monica to Downtown LA. After receiving approval from the California Public Utilities Commission, the company transitions to a paid service in the coming weeks. Over the past five months, Angelenos complete more than 15,000 fully autonomous rides and give the service an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.
In Austin, Waymo is currently testing fully autonomous vehicles across a 43 square mile area that includes downtown, Barton Hills, and East Austin. The company plans to open this service to the general public later in the year after completing this initial testing phase. This careful, deliberate evaluation process ensures the Waymo Driver safely handles the unique road conditions of each new city.