Waymo: Autonomous Taxis Will Soon Be Driving in San Francisco

Based on the Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles, autonomous taxis will soon be operating through the streets of San Francisco (United States).

Autonomous cars still have a long way to go before they become fully operational in all circumstances. Nevertheless, the advances made by the Alphabet group (Google) are remarkable through its subsidiary Waymo.

San Francisco and without a driver

The small Google Car has changed a lot since 2015. Today, autonomous driving is being perfected on the Jaguar I-Pace, the British electric SUV. This vehicle supports Waymo technology, which is now capable of driving without any human intervention. Previously, tests could only be conducted with a driver/technician present in case of emergency. These tests lasted 6 months with real customers after several months of internal testing that began in February 2021.

Waymo is therefore launching its first robotaxi service in San Francisco. The Californian city is known for its steep inclines, obstacles, and its need to interact with trams and numerous bicycles. It was chosen because 63% of residents find drivers dangerous and 57% find driving too stressful, according to a proprietary survey.

The employees first

For now, the cars only transport company employees. Ordinary users cannot yet hail an autonomous taxi (mainly because it must be booked via a mobile app), but some have already tested this in another state.

Waymo launched its “Waymo One” service in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona, as early as October 2020. Open to the public, this service features a different base vehicle, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. Regarding pricing, Waymo does not disclose its rates. CNBC tested a trip, estimating it at around 9.5 euros for a 14-minute ride.

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