Waymo has started offering paid robotaxi rides to residents in Los Angeles after receiving approval from California regulators. Despite initial concerns about safety, over 50,000 people are waiting to try out the service. The company has not disclosed the number of people who will be able to use the app, but they have a fleet of fewer than 50 cars to start with. The service covers a 63-square-mile area from Santa Monica to downtown LA and operates similarly to Lyft, Uber, and Flywheel but without a driver.
The reception from residents in Los Angeles has been positive so far, according to Chris Ludwick, Waymo’s product management director. This move is part of the company’s effort to expand its autonomous vehicle services beyond Phoenix and San Francisco, where they have been operating since 2018 and 2021 respectively. However, the expansion of autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles has faced challenges, with accidents during test runs raising concerns about safety. Other companies, such as Tesla and General Motors’ Cruise, have also faced safety issues with their self-driving vehicles.
Last year, a Waymo car was involved in a deadly accident in Los Angeles while in autonomous mode. Despite a test driver being present in the driver’s seat, the vehicle’s automatic driving system was in control. This incident, along with other safety concerns, has fueled ongoing debates about the safety of self-driving cars in urban environments. The expansion of Waymo’s services in Los Angeles marks a significant milestone for autonomous vehicles, but safety remains a top priority for both companies and regulators.
The worries about self-driving cars’ safety have been growing in Los Angeles, with multiple incidents involving different companies’ autonomous vehicles. Tesla faced a major recall over safety concerns regarding its autopilot system, and General Motors’ Cruise is under federal investigation after one of its robotaxis dragged a pedestrian. These incidents have raised questions about the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles, especially in high-traffic urban areas like Los Angeles.
Waymo has been testing its autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles for the past year, offering rides to public passengers during an invitation-only period. The company has been marketing its service and providing rides in fully autonomous white Jaguars around the city as part of its testing process. The expansion of Waymo’s services to Los Angeles reflects the growing interest and investment in autonomous vehicle technology, despite ongoing safety concerns. The success of these robotaxi rides in Los Angeles could set a precedent for other cities looking to introduce similar services in the future.
