Waymo boosts self-driving taxi service in Los Angeles

Google’s self-driving taxi service, Waymo, is expanding its operations in Los Angeles.

The company announced this week that it would add 50 driverless taxicabs to its fleet in the city on Thursday. The new cabs will give 50,000 free rides to people who previously signed up to be a part of the testing service.

While Waymo won’t initially charge customers, Thursday’s expansion marks a significant step forward for the company. The taxis will operate in a 63-square-mile radius from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles.

The expansion comes as residents in California continue to express their distrust of driverless taxis to state regulators. The California Public Utilities Commission rejected the concerns of citizens and awareness groups this month when it approved Waymo’s growth plans.

Public sentiment toward driverless cars has been affected by several events. In October, a Cruise automated taxi ran over and dragged a pedestrian, an accident caught in a viral video. California regulators have since revoked Cruise’s ability to operate in the state, but the General Motors-owned company said it aims to relaunch in the state after testing.

Activists say driverless cars can malfunction in ways that put their communities in danger. Worker groups also aren’t totally on board with robo-taxis. Teamsters Union members protested outside Waymo’s California offices in October, saying driverless cars threaten jobs and safety in the area.

Waymo and Cruise have responded by saying their cars are far safer than those with traditional drivers. Waymo’s taxis have been operating in Phoenix since 2020 and have already started testing operations in Austin, Texas. So far, none of Waymo’s taxis have been involved in a deadly incident.