Waymo will launch a commercial robotaxi service in Austin by the end of the year

Alphabet-owned Waymo has announced plans to launch a commercial robot taxi service for the public in Austin, Texas by the end of 2024.

Here's What We Know

Waymo is currently testing and validating its driverless cars in an area of about 43 square miles around downtown Austin, covering areas such as Barton Hills, Riverside, East Austin and Hyde Park.

The company recently allowed its autonomous cars to drive around Austin entirely without safety operators behind the wheel, an important step before opening the service to the public.

Once launched, Austin residents will be able to book rides in Waymo's unmanned vehicles through the Waymo One app. However, the company will be able to charge for these robotaxi services as it does in other cities where it operates.

Once commercially launched, Austin will be the fourth city where Waymo will offer drone taxi services after Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Source: TechCrunch