Last week in a post on X, Waymo shared that it has begun offering its employees rides on San Francisco freeways using its autonomous vehicles.
After successful testing of our autonomous vehicles on Phoenix freeways, we’re expanding our operations. Starting today, our employees will also have access to fully autonomous rides on San Francisco freeways. pic.twitter.com/DzGdEgkm1U
— Waymo (@Waymo) August 12, 2024
In the post, Waymo shared that, following successful tests on freeways in Phoenix, Arizona, employees in San Francisco can now access fully autonomous rides on the city’s freeways. The company highlighted potential time savings on routes such as the one between Lake Merced and Oracle Park. A Waymo spokesperson explained that this expansion is part of the company’s ongoing efforts to roll out its technology gradually.
This announcement follows Waymo’s recent expansion of robotaxi services beyond San Francisco to Daly City, Broadmoor and Colma, covering a total of 55 square miles in the Bay Area region. However, the expansion has faced some opposition from local leaders in San Mateo County, who expressed concerns over the lack of advance notice and are supporting a measure that would enable local authorities to regulate AVs.