Famously known for their presence on Los Angeles streets, Alphabet’s Waymo robotaxis are now venturing onto the city’s extensive freeway system. The tech giant announced it will conduct robotaxi trials on several Los Angeles interstates, including I-10, I-110, I-405, and the 90, with no human safety officer on board.
Following its well-established test-to-commercial service practice, Waymo will initially offer its autonomous robotaxi service for employee use. Public use will follow in due course. Unlocking freeway travel is crucial to Waymo’s business model, particularly in cities of sprawling dimensions like Phoenix and Los Angeles, where the company currently operates.
Offering the shortest route commonly via freeways may entice customers to select Waymo over other traditional ride-hailing or taxi services. To illustrate, Waymo states that a trip from Santa Monica Pier to the Broad via I-10 can be approximately 50% faster.
Waymo, based in Los Angeles since 2019, has been frequently mapping neighborhoods such as downtown, Miracle Mile, Koreatown, Santa Monica, Westwood, and West Hollywood. The company announced in 2022 that it would mark Los Angeles as one of its forthcoming commercial markets alongside Phoenix and San Francisco.
In March 2024, Waymo achieved California Public Utilities Commission approval to commence its commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles and an extended territory in the Bay Area, inclusive of the San Francisco Peninsula and its freeways.
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