Waymo Launches Fully Driverless Robotaxis on Freeways in Three U.S. Cities
Waymo has officially begun operating fully driverless robotaxis on freeways in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix—becoming the first company in the United States to do so without a human backup driver inside the vehicle.
Starting Wednesday, the Alphabet-owned company’s 24/7 freeway service is available to selected riders who have opted in to try the new features. This milestone marks a significant leap in autonomous mobility and kicks off a gradual rollout that will expand across Waymo’s existing urban service areas.
A First for U.S. Highway Robotaxi Service
This is the first time any company in the U.S. has offered commercial, highway-level rides with no safety driver present. While traditional taxis and rideshare platforms like Uber have always operated on freeways, Waymo’s autonomous vehicles previously avoided these roads. With the freeway restriction now lifted, the company says passengers can expect shorter and faster trips, no longer needing to reroute around highways.
Waymo Outpaces Tesla and Other Rivals
Unlike Waymo, other American competitors are still sticking with in-vehicle safety monitors. For instance, Tesla recently launched limited self-driving cab services in Austin, including some freeway routes—but each ride still requires a human in the driver’s seat. For city street trips, Tesla assigns a monitor to the front passenger seat. CEO Elon Musk has also announced ongoing tests of a dedicated robotaxi, the Cybercab, which he claims could enter production by April.
Globally, companies like China-based WeRide offer highway robotaxi rides in Abu Dhabi, but even their vehicles include safety drivers.
Training and Technology
Waymo, based in Mountain View, California, uses the same core sensor system and software for both urban and freeway driving. The company trained its cars for highway conditions through a combination of closed-course testing and advanced simulations. Special focus was placed on handling unpredictable and rare driving scenarios.
The autonomous vehicles are programmed to maintain the natural flow of highway traffic, keep pace with surrounding vehicles, and stay within legal speed limits. If a robotaxi experiences an issue, it safely exits the freeway and pulls over on a nearby road before stopping.
Expansion into San Jose and Airports
Beyond adding freeway capability, Waymo is expanding its Bay Area service zone to include San Jose, as well as direct access to San Jose International Airport. Riders traveling to or from the airport will pay the same fee as traditional taxis, according to the company.
Waymo is also collaborating with San Francisco International Airport, where robotaxis are currently limited to testing only. While there’s no timeline yet for a full rollout at SFO, the airport is being integrated into Waymo’s routing systems for future use.
Impact and Fleet Details
Waymo stated it does not expect this new freeway service to significantly impact traffic congestion in any of its cities. The company’s current fleet consists of:
– 1,000 vehicles in the San Francisco Bay Area
– 700 in Los Angeles
– 500 in Phoenix
– 200 in Austin
– 100 in Atlanta
There is, however, no official timeline for when freeway rides might launch in other markets.
The Next Step in Driverless Mobility
For now, selected riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix who have opted in can already experience what Waymo describes as the next step in fully driverless transportation.
Stay tuned for updates as Waymo’s unprecedented highway service gradually expands.
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