Waymo robotaxis have become a common sight on Los Angeles surface streets. Now, those driverless vehicles are heading to the city’s network of freeways.
The Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle technology company said Tuesday it will begin testing its fleet of robotaxis on the Los Angeles freeway system, including Interstates 10, 110, 405, and the 90.
These robotaxis will not have a human safety operator behind the wheel. Waymo will follow the same testing-to-commercial service path as it has done in other areas. The company will first invite employees to access driverless vehicles on LA freeways and will eventually open it up to the public.
Unlocking freeways is key to Waymo’s business success, particularly in sprawling cities of Phoenix and Los Angeles, where it operates today. Customers may be more likely to opt for a Waymo over another ride-hailing service or taxi if the robotaxi can take the shortest possible route — which is oftentimes accessed via freeway.
For instance, Waymo said that taking a trip from Santa Monica Pier to the Broad can be 50% faster by taking Interstate 10.
Waymo has had a presence in Los Angeles since 2019, periodically coming in to map neighborhoods, including downtown, Miracle Mile, Koreatown, Santa Monica, Westwood, and West Hollywood. In 2022, the company announced Los Angeles would be one of its next commercial markets, following Phoenix and San Francisco.
Waymo received approval in March 2024 from the the California Public Utilities Commission to operate a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles as well expanded territory in the Bay Area that included the San Francisco Peninsula and San Francisco freeways.
