Waymo's robot taxi service launches in Los Angeles

Waymo, a division of Alphabet, is launching robotic taxi services in Los Angeles, offering free rides to about 50,000 registered users in some areas of the city.

Here's What We Know

Waymo's robot taxis will begin hitting the streets on Thursday, March 14, covering a 63 square mile (101 square kilometres) area from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles. This is the second California city where the company is entering the market after receiving approval from state regulators.

Waymo already launched paid 24-hour robotaxi services in San Francisco last year, despite objections from city officials over public safety. In Phoenix, the company has been charging for robotaxis since 2020.

While rides in Los Angeles will be free for now, Waymo plans to start charging passengers over time. By the end of 2024, the company also expects to launch commercial robotaxis in Austin, Texas.

The entry into the Los Angeles market comes two weeks after regulatory approval, despite concerns from the city's transport officials about potential incidents with robotaxis on the roads.

Source: TechXplore