Waymo posted on X today that it has opened fully autonomous rides on Los Angeles freeways to its employees. The company noted that this is a preliminary step towards bringing its fleet to the freeways for all passengers in the city.
After receiving permission to launch local robotaxis in March 2024, Waymo offered autonomous rides in Los Angeles on a small scale with a waiting list for interested customers. In November, the waiting list ended, so anyone in Los Angeles could book a ride. But for a city as sprawling as Los Angeles, access to a freeway is virtually essential to getting around, so adding freeways to the cars’ capabilities would mark a significant improvement in how useful Waymo’s robot taxis will be.
Waymo, which is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has set its sights on its first international expansion. The company said it plans to start testing vehicles and mapping in Japan early this year. On the domestic front, Waymo also plans to launch in Austin and Atlanta in early 2025.
