"the Alphabet-owned company has been allowed to deploy an unlimited number of robotaxis for paid driverless rides in the city [San Francisco] at all hours. In March, state regulators allowed the company to expand its commercial ride-hailing to 22 Peninsula cities.
Now, Waymo officials are declaring victory after a year of commercial driverless service without any serious incidents and say it gives them confidence to speed up their robotaxi expansion.
David Margines, Waymo’s director of product management, said in an interview that the company’s one-year track record in San Francisco “is a validation” that its robotaxis can “drive safely” and “coexist in the communities that we want to operate in.”
“Looking back over the year, I’m thrilled to say that it’s been a big success,” he said."
“Last week, Waymo announced that its robotaxis have eclipsed more than 100,000 weekly paid rides, with San Francisco recording the “greatest increase in trips this summer” and the most out of Waymo’s three markets.”
Things have been moving so slow in this industry. But I’m getting more and more hopeful that huge growth is on the horizon.
Self driving cars are such a cool concept.
However, because I do not trust a single corporation to ever implement them safely or with the slightest bit of care towards my privacy or freedom, they will unfortunately forever be banned from my garage along with every other vehicle built later than 2014.
I personally think it was cause a revolution in mobility and cities in general. Far bigger than what most see.
Long term I see car ownership dropping massively and self driving cars working somewhere between taxis and buses linking with rail. With the option of paying more for a personal vehicle or van when required.
The land usage taken up by personal vehicles is horrific and, while not perfect, self driving cars seem the most reasonable step to a big drop in emission and increase in density and public parks and such.
I’m just looking forward to watching movies on my phone during a long commute.
Don’t worry, you really wouldn’t be able to afford one, and owning one pretty much defeats their purpose.
The waymo vehicles are so cautious they create safety issues.
