Waymo, the Alphabet-owned self-driving technology company, has announced that it is removing the waitlist for its robotaxi service in San Francisco. This means that anyone can now download the app and hail one of Waymo’s robotaxis immediately, similar to the company’s strategy in Phoenix. The removal of the waitlist comes just weeks after Waymo issued a software recall for its Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis following a collision with a telephone pole.
Waymo has had a presence in the San Francisco area since 2009, but it wasn’t until last year that the company was able to charge customers for rides in its self-driving vehicles. Initially, Waymo established a waitlist that nearly 300,000 people signed up for. However, as the number of people on the waitlist dwindled to a few hundred, Waymo decided to remove it altogether.
In addition to their operations in San Francisco, Waymo has also received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to operate a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Peninsula, and on San Francisco freeways. Although Waymo is testing in these areas, their San Francisco fleet of 300 robotaxis is currently limited to within the city limits. Overall, Waymo has more than 700 robotaxis in its fleet, spread across commercial markets in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, as well as testing locations in Silicon Valley and Austin, Texas.
According to Waymo’s internal statistics, their service has been well-received in San Francisco. The company gives tens of thousands of trips each week in the city, similar to the number of trips in Phoenix. Data from a company survey also revealed that over half of Waymo’s San Francisco customers have used the robotaxis for medical appointments in the past couple of months. Additionally, 36% of customers used Waymo to connect to other forms of transit, such as BART or Muni.
The removal of the waitlist for Waymo’s San Francisco robotaxi service is a significant milestone for the company and its customers. It allows for easier access to the self-driving technology and demonstrates Waymo’s commitment to expanding its commercial operations across different cities. With Waymo’s growing fleet and positive customer feedback, it is clear that self-driving technology is becoming increasingly accepted and utilized in the transportation industry.