Following a recent announcement regarding its upcoming Munich expansion, Waymo today unveiled that it will bring over its fully autonomous public rides in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, which brings up its urban coverage up to a total of 14 cities. Suzanne Philion, Chief Marketing Officer at Waymo comments:
From coast to coast, we’re focused on making everyday transportation safer, easier, and more accessible. Launching public rides in San Diego, Tampa, and in my home state of Colorado brings our newest vehicle platform and next-generation driver to more riders who are ready to experience the future of mobility.
Waymo says that it is currently working on accommodating thousands of residents who have signed up for the service waitlist, and it plans on gradually onboarding riders in the new markets before rolling out the service to the general public. The company also plans to systematically expand its service areas across all operational cities to connect riders with more destinations.
READ: Waymo Takes its Driverless Taxi Operations Overseas into Germany
Prior to the launch, Waymo stated that it validated the Waymo Driver on local streets, operating with 94% fewer serious injury or fatal crashes compared to human drivers. Finally, Waymo is also coordinating closely with local officials and first responders to ensure they are fully trained to interact with its vehicles.