Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service in LA and SF

Waymo, the self-driving car subsidiary of Alphabet, has announced a significant expansion of its robotaxi service, adding 10 square miles around San Francisco and 16 square miles in Los Angeles. This expansion includes key neighborhoods such as Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Playa Vista, and parts of Hollywood, Chinatown, and Westwood. The move aims to increase customer reach and scale commercial operations, although profitability remains a distant goal for the company. The expansion follows Waymo's recent achievement of providing over two million paid rides across its markets, which include Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. Despite generating revenue from these operations, Waymo continues to rely on financial support from its parent company, Alphabet, which has pledged an additional $5 billion investment to bolster its efforts. Waymo's latest growth comes after receiving approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to operate a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Peninsula. Since gaining this approval in August 2023, Waymo has been running a 24/7 service in San Francisco and has been actively testing its self-driving vehicles in the greater San Francisco Peninsula area. While specific details about its global fleet remain undisclosed, a spokesperson confirmed that approximately 300 vehicles are currently operating in San Francisco, 50 in Los Angeles, and 200 in Phoenix, with additional testing occurring in Austin and Mountain View, California. This expansion marks a significant step in Waymo's ongoing efforts to enhance its autonomous vehicle services.