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Alphabet’s Waymo said on Tuesday its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, is now available to everyone in San Francisco, nearly four years after a similar move in Phoenix, Arizona.
Commercial Potential and Regulatory Scrutiny:
Driverless vehicles are expected to drive commercial success for automakers even as regulatory scrutiny remains tight amid investors’ concerns about growing investments in the nascent technology.
Waymo started a test service with its research-focused program in San Francisco in 2021, which included an autonomous specialist on board for all rides as it sought to commercialize the technology.
Strong Demand for Waymo One:
The company said that about 300,000 people had signed up to ride with Waymo since it first opened a waitlist in the city, signaling strong demand. With open access, anyone can request a ride on its app.
The company had opened access to everyone in Phoenix, Arizona, without a waitlist in 2020.
Mountain View, California-based Waymo is a self-driving technology pioneer. It started its first U.S. driverless taxi service in 2020, over a decade after being born in 2009 as a project inside Google.
Regulatory Approvals and Competitor Landscape:
In March, the company received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to start its Waymo One in Los Angeles and some cities near San Francisco.
Rivals, including General Motors-backed Cruise and Amazon.com’s Zoox, are accelerating a race to succeed amid probes by auto regulators into the performance of autonomous driving cars.
Safety Concerns and Investigations:
Last month, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had learned of nine additional incidents raising concerns about the performance of Waymo self-driving vehicles.
