Waymo Opens Driverless Robotaxi Service to All Riders in Downtown Phoenix
Waymo now allows the general public to hail fully driverless ride-hail vehicles in downtown Phoenix around the clock. This commercial expansion highlights the company's rapid push toward widespread autonomous transportation.
Waymo opens its fully driverless ride-hailing service in downtown Phoenix to the general public, moving beyond its previous "trusted tester" program. Anyone who downloads the Waymo app can now hail a paid, autonomous ride 24/7 within the designated downtown service area. This expansion mirrors the commercial service the company has operated in Chandler, Arizona since 2020.
This launch in Phoenix is a clear sign of Waymo's accelerated push toward commercialization, occurring just one day after the company secures a driverless deployment permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. That recent permit allows Waymo to charge for autonomous services in San Francisco and serves as a crucial prerequisite for obtaining a commercial robotaxi operating permit from the California Public Utilities Commission.
Waymo plans to expand its downtown Phoenix coverage in the coming months and is already taking steps to connect the city center to the airport. Although airport rides currently require a human safety driver and are limited to trusted testers, the company is likely to follow its standard expansion roadmap by eventually offering fully driverless airport trips to the general public. Waymo states it is prepared to meet the projected healthy demand for its continuous autonomous service.