Driverless Vehicles

Waymo plans manual tests in Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans before potentially launching robotaxi services there in 2026. This expansion follows imminent driverless operations in Texas and Florida. Data from tests will calibrate Waymo’s tech for city-specific conditions. The company emphasizes safety in scaling, currently offering 250,000 weekly paid trips in other cities. Waymo also integrated freeway routes and aims to operate in severe winter weather. Competition is increasing, with Zoox also expanding its robotaxi services.