Waymo Launches Driverless Service on Freeways Across Major U.S. Cities

UPDATE: Waymo has just announced the launch of its driverless ride-hailing service on freeways across the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, marking a major milestone in autonomous vehicle technology. This development allows riders to book fully autonomous trips on major highways via the Waymo app, expanding service from San Francisco to San Jose, including curbside service at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC).

This crucial expansion follows extensive testing, with millions of miles logged on freeways. Waymo has demonstrated its capability to navigate high-speed environments safely, addressing prior safety concerns. In a recent interview, Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana confirmed that the company has driven over 100 million Rider Only (RO) miles, showing that Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are five times safer than human drivers.

The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny from regulators. In October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation into 2,000 Waymo vehicles after footage showed one navigating dangerously around a stopped school bus. Waymo has since implemented significant updates to enhance fleet performance and safety measures.

As part of its competitive strategy, Waymo is also expanding its fleet by incorporating vehicles from Hyundai. The company faces competition from tech giants like Amazon and Tesla, both of which are advancing their autonomous vehicle programs. Amazon’s Zoox is broadening its testing cities, while Tesla plans to launch its cybercab by 2026.

In the international arena, Waymo competes with Baidu’s Apollo Go, which offers lower production costs, and PonyAI, which has transitioned to a fare-charging model. Meanwhile, traditional rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft are adapting their business models to incorporate autonomous technology.

Looking ahead, Waymo plans to expand to several new cities, including Miami in early 2026, bolstered by favorable regulations. The company is also working on eliminating requirements for human supervisors in Washington, D.C. Recently, Waymo became the first autonomous company allowed to test vehicles in New York City, with a permit extended through December 2025.

Waymo’s current operational markets include:

– Phoenix
– San Francisco
– Los Angeles
– Austin (via Uber)
– Atlanta (via Uber)

Future expansion markets are set to include:

– Miami
– Washington, D.C.
– Nashville
– Denver
– Dallas
– Seattle
– London

As Waymo continues to grow, it aims to ramp up its operations from hundreds of thousands of rides per week to 1 million trips per week by the end of 2026.

The U.S. robotaxi market is poised for explosive growth, projected to leap from $1.2 billion in 2024 to $2 billion in 2025. By 2029, this market is expected to reach $16.24 billion, growing at a staggering annual rate. According to Goldman Sachs, the autonomous rideshare sector could generate $7 billion in annual revenue and capture approximately 8% of the U.S. rideshare market by 2030.

With over 1,500 operational vehicles now in five U.S. cities, Waymo’s advancements signal a significant shift in the transportation landscape, making the future of ridesharing not only automated but also safer and more efficient.

Stay tuned for more updates as Waymo continues to redefine urban mobility.