Waymo continues robotaxi ramp up with Miami service now open to public

Waymo has officially launched its robotaxi service for public use in Miami, allowing local riders to hail autonomous vehicles. The service is initially available to approximately 10,000 residents who are on the company’s waiting list. Accepted riders can summon a robotaxi within a 60-square-mile area that includes vibrant neighborhoods like the Design District, Wynwood, Brickell, and Coral Gables. The company has indicated plans to extend its service to Miami International Airport, although a specific timeline for this expansion has not been disclosed. Waymo's presence in Miami has been established for several months, during which the company conducted extensive mapping and testing of its autonomous fleet. Notably, they removed safety operators from the vehicles in November, and the driverless service was first made accessible to employees. This methodical rollout aligns with Waymo’s strategic approach, which has become increasingly common in recent launches. The company first introduced its robotaxi service to the public in Phoenix back in 2020, followed by expansions into cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. By 2024, the service became available to all riders across those locations. Waymo has ambitious plans for further growth, aiming to introduce its robotaxi service to nearly a dozen new cities within the next year, including Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, London, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Testing has already commenced in some of these markets, utilizing a combination of all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and newer Zeekr RT vans, which have been rebranded as "Ojai." According to Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, the company anticipates providing one million trips per week by the end of 2026. However, this expansion has not come without challenges. Residents in cities like San Francisco have reported incidents of Waymo vehicles causing traffic congestion, particularly highlighted during a significant power outage last December. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation regarding the vehicles’ interactions with stopped school buses in Atlanta, with similar concerns raised in Austin. Although Waymo has issued a voluntary software recall to address these issues, recent footage suggests that the problem persists.