Waymo starts testing in Denver, Seattle in bid to expand robotaxi service across U.S.

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Alphabet, has announced the commencement of test drives for its robotaxi service in Denver and Seattle. This initiative, which begins this week, involves human drivers operating the vehicles as the company works to validate its technology ahead of fully autonomous operations in the future. In a statement shared via email, a Waymo spokesperson highlighted the importance of manual driving in the initial phase before transitioning to fully driverless services. The tests were detailed through blog posts by the company, which is eager to broaden its reach across the United States, building on its existing operations in cities like Austin, Atlanta, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Waymo's robotaxi service varies by location; in Austin and Atlanta, rides can be requested through the Uber app, while in other areas, users must utilize the Waymo One app. For the Denver and Seattle trials, trained safety drivers will oversee the vehicles, ensuring safety as they gather data during the testing process. Additionally, Waymo is conducting similar trials in New York City, having recently secured permits in the densely populated region. The fleet for the Denver and Seattle tests will feature a combination of the electric Jaguar iPace and Geely Zeekr autonomous vehicles, with plans to deploy up to twelve cars in each city. On the competitive landscape, Waymo faces significant challenges from Baidu's Apollo Go in China, which has established a presence in the autonomous ride-hailing market across Asia. Meanwhile, Tesla has also entered the arena, having received a permit to operate a ride-hailing service in Texas, with ongoing trials in Austin and San Francisco.