Waymo Starts Driverless Rides on San Francisco Freeways

Self-driving taxi company Waymo has begun fully driverless testing on San Francisco freeways.

Its autonomous vehicles (AVs) will take to freeways across the Bay Area with no safety operators on board, with the cabs – initially at least – available only to employees.

Eventually, the service will be opened to members of the public, although no timeline for this has yet been revealed. This incremental approach to expansion has been a feature of Waymo’s rollout across the United States.

The news was announced via a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Aug. 12, which read: “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.”

It was accompanied by a map, which illustrates the potential benefits of the service. A route from Lake Merced to Oracle Park would take 20 minutes traveling via freeways; without utilizing freeways it would take double that, at 40 minutes.

It is understood that the first phase of driverless testing will involve only a handful of cars and take place outside of peak rush hour traffic.

In Phoenix, the company’s converted Jaguar I-Pace SUVs have become a familiar sight on the city’s freeways since it announced that driverless testing was to commence in January this year.

Related:Self-Driving Taxi Company Waymo Expands California Coverage Area

News of the San Francisco plan comes following a decision by the California Public Utilities Commission earlier this year to allow Waymo to extend its coverage across the state, as well as operate on freeways at speeds of up to 65 mph.

This opened the door for Waymo to ultimately charge for driverless services on freeways and the latest phase of testing is the next step towards that goal.

It also reflects the consistent progress that Waymo is making in executing its strategic rollout. Only last week, the company announced it was set to extend the operational zones for its Waymo One ride-hailing service in the Bay Area (as well as Los Angeles County).

It confirmed it was moving into the San Francisco Peninsula for the first time, adding a total of 10 square miles, with Daly City, Broadmoor and Colma now covered by the Waymo One ride-hailing service. The company says that this means its operation there now covers 55 square miles.

In July, meanwhile, it emerged that it was also eyeing potential expansion to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), following a successful launch at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, where it now offers curbside pick-ups. However, it is understood that approval to operate at SFO, which is determined by the San Francisco Airport Commission, is likely to be some way off.

Related:Waymo California Expansion Gets Greenlight

Waymo’s ambition was also underscored by another $5 billion investment from parent Alphabet in July.