Waymo's Self-Driving Taxi Service Hits New High: Over 100,000 Weekly Rides

Waymo's Self-Driving Taxi Service Hits New High: Over 100,000 Weekly RidesWaymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana announced Tuesday that the company's self-driving taxi service in the U.S

Waymo's Self-Driving Taxi Service Hits New High: Over 100,000 Weekly Rides

Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana announced Tuesday that the company's self-driving taxi service in the U.S. has surpassed 100,000 paid rides per week, doubling the 50,000 rides reported in May. This indicates a significant increase in both coverage and usage of Waymo's self-driving taxi service in just a few months.

A Waymo spokesperson confirmed that San Francisco is currently the city with the "most rides being offered" and that other cities with commercial service operations include Phoenix, Austin, and Los Angeles. Waymo currently operates the only commercial self-driving taxi service in the U.S., WaymoOne, with approximately 700 vehicles. The company has previously partnered with Uber in Phoenix to offer its service to users of the ride-hailing app.

In Tuesday's statement, Waymo mentioned that its service area in Phoenix expanded by over 230 square kilometers in June, making it the largest self-driving taxi service area in the U.S. Additionally, Waymo has expanded its San Francisco service to three new areas in California: Daly City, Broadmoor, and Colma. It is also testing its self-driving vehicles on highways in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Waymo's recently launched "Generation 6" self-driving system can operate in a wider range of weather conditions and reduces the number of expensive cameras and sensors on vehicles. Waymo claims that with over 23.82 million kilometers of self-driving mileage accumulated, its WaymoDriver is 3.5 times more efficient than human drivers in avoiding accidents that cause injuries, and three times more efficient in avoiding accidents recorded by police.

While media outlets have not been able to independently verify Waymo's safety claims, the company's leading position in the autonomous driving field is undeniable. While companies like Didi and Pony.ai have launched commercial self-driving taxi services in China, Waymo faces relatively limited competition in the U.S. General Motors' Cruise unit has temporarily withdrawn its self-driving vehicles due to setbacks, and Uber and Ford have also paused their self-driving taxi development projects. Tesla has been promising to enable self-driving capabilities in customers' existing vehicles through software updates for years, but it has yet to release a model suitable for use as a driverless taxi.

Notably, Tesla is planning to unveil its dedicated self-driving taxi, the CyberCab, at a highly anticipated event on October 10th. Waymo's breakthrough advancements in autonomous driving, coupled with Tesla's entry into the market, will undoubtedly drive the development and application of future self-driving technologies.

The rapid growth of Waymo's self-driving taxi service in a short period not only demonstrates the progress of autonomous driving technology, but also foretells a transformation in future transportation modes. As Waymo and other autonomous driving technology companies continue to refine their technologies and expand their service areas, people will be able to enjoy the convenience, safety, and efficiency of self-driving, transforming the traditional transportation experience.