Waymo launches commercial robo-taxi service
Called Waymo One, the service will be offered initially to the hundreds of early riders who have already been using the technology via Waymo’s early rider program. The program has been available since early 2017 to residents in parts of the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area, where Waymo has been testing its technology.
“Over time, we hope to make Waymo One available to even more members of the public as we add vehicles and drive in more places,” says John Krafcik, Waymo CEO. “Self-driving technology is new to many, so we’re proceeding carefully with the comfort and convenience of our riders in mind.”
Initially, Waymo-trained drivers will supervise the Waymo One vehicles. In addition, says the company, its early rider program will continue as a way to help test early features before those new capabilities graduate to Waymo One.
For example, Waymo has already offered fully driverless rides to some of its early riders. “We expect this capability to gradually come to Waymo One,” says Krafcik.
In addition to the Waymo One announcement, the company offered a blog post designed to answer the question, “What’s it like to ride with Waymo One ?” For more, see “Riding with Waymo One today.”
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