Waymo trials commercial driverless taxi service in Phoenix, Arizona

Waymo has launched a driverless taxi service in Phoenix, Arizona, where riders will be charged for the journeys they take. In a blog post, CEO John Krafcik says the commercial self-driving service – called Waymo One - is available to early riders who have already been using Waymo’s technology. The company hopes to make the service available to more members of the public as it adds more vehicles and drives in more places, he writes. “Self-driving technology is new to many, so we’re proceeding carefully wi
December 10, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

8621 Waymo has launched a driverless taxi service in Phoenix, Arizona, where riders will be charged for the journeys they take.

In a %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external blog post false https://medium.com/waymo/waymo-one-the-next-step-on-our-self-driving-journey-6d0c075b0e9b false false%>, CEO John Krafcik says the commercial self-driving service – called Waymo One - is available to early riders who have already been using Waymo’s technology. The company hopes to make the service available to more members of the public as it adds more vehicles and drives in more places, he writes.

“Self-driving technology is new to many, so we’re proceeding carefully with the comfort and convenience of our riders in mind,” Krafcik adds.

A report by %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external Reuters false https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-waymo-selfdriving-focus/waymo-unveils-self-driving-taxi-service-in-arizona-for-paying-customers-idUKKBN1O41M2 false false%> says the service will operate in a 100-mile zone in Chandler, Tempe, Mesa and Gilbert.

The news agency took a trip but says its Waymo One taxi “proved slow and jerky at times” and was slightly more expensive than existing taxi options.

“For now, pricing is roughly in line with that of Uber and Lyft. A 15-minute, 3-mile (4.8 km) drive taken by Reuters last week cost $7.59, just above the $7.22 offered by Lyft,” Reuters adds.

Riders can hail taxis by downloading the company app and providing a credit card number. A human driver remains in the driver’s seat to take control in emergency situations.

Last month, Waymo was granted a licence to test fully-driverless cars on %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external public roads false http://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/waymo-gets-california-green-light-for-public-driverless-tests/ false false%> in California.

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • UK man refuses to take down fake speed camera on A1 road
    October 3, 2018
    A 72-year-old man living beside a major UK road has refused to take down a replica speed camera. The BBC report says Mike Lacey built the fake camera for £40 using drainpipe and guttering to slow drivers passing his house next to the A1 in Beeston, Bedfordshire. Lacey says authorities have asked him to remove the structure as it was distracting for drivers. The village is divided by a dual-carriageway with a speed limit of 50mph.
    Read More
  • Getaround launches on-demand carsharing service in Philadelphia, US
    August 14, 2018
    Getaround has launched its peer-to-peer carsharing service in Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, US, in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion. The service also allows car owners to earn money by renting vehicles to people in their neighbourhood. The cars can be booked hourly or daily and are equipped with Getaround Connect, a patented platform which allows users to remotely locate and unlock vehicles through the company's iPhone or Android app.
    Read More
  • Asia Pacific dignitaries to see connected vehicle showcases at ITS World Congress
    June 14, 2013
    ITS Japan will use advances in the country’s ITS capabilities since it last hosted the event in 2004 as the basis of several showcases and sessions the forthcoming World Congress (Tokyo 14 – 18 October), the association’s president Hajime Amano told ITS International.
    Read More
  • DiDi Chuxing to expand into Chilean cities
    September 24, 2019
    Chinese ride-hailing company DiDi Chuxing is to expand to 14 cities in Chile by the end of the year, according to a report by China Daily. Mi Yang, DiDi's head of operations in Latin America, says the company is aiming to provide a safe mobility service which will include an emergency hotline allowing passengers to communicate with the team. DiDi says the service will expand in October to the northern cities of Antofagasta, La Serena and Coquimbo; central cities of Rancagua, Talca, Concepcion and Temuco;
    Read More

Highlighted Content