Waymo has launched unmanned rides for employees in Austin

Waymo has announced the launch of its unmanned vehicles without a safety operator behind the wheel in Austin, Texas.

Here's What We Know

As part of the new testing phase, Waymo will be transporting its employees across 43 square miles in the Texas capital, including the Barton Hills, Riverside, East Austin, Hyde Park and downtown areas.

The initiative comes shortly after the company was allowed to charge for autonomous rides in an expanded region of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Waymo has not yet announced a timeline for when Austin residents will be able to use its robotaxi services. Once commercially launched, the Texas capital will become the fourth city on the list of locations where the company's drone taxis officially operate, joining Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix.

Waymo continues to steadily expand its Waymo One unmanned ride-hailing programme, despite other companies struggling in this area.

Cruise's closest competitor, GM-owned Cruise, is currently under investigation by multiple agencies due to a crash in San Francisco on 2 October 2023.

Ford-backed Argo AI has ceased operations altogether. And many Chinese startups that once led the way in unmanned driving have slowed or stopped testing in the US.

Waymo itself has had problems. Last month, one of the company's unmanned vehicles collided with a cyclist in San Francisco. That incident is being investigated by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

The company also recently recalled its software after two cars crashed into the same tow truck in the Phoenix area late last year.

Go Deeper:

• Waymo's robotaxi was attacked and set on fire in San Francisco
• Homeless man tried to steal Waymo's unmanned car in downtown Los Angeles

Source: TechCrunch