Hey friends, Nuked here! Let’s dive into some exciting news in the tech world.
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle pioneer, has received approval from California’s Public Utilities Commission to grow its robotaxi operations further south of San Francisco. While this doesn’t mean immediate changes, it paves the way for more driverless rides in additional communities.
Currently, Waymo’s driverless taxis operate within San Francisco and parts of Silicon Valley, covering about 85 square miles. They serve areas like Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Sunnyvale, providing hundreds of thousands of trips weekly.
With the recent green light, Waymo plans to extend its service to more locations in the South Bay and San Jose. Although it won’t impact current activities right away, it’s a big step toward broader coverage in the region.
Additionally, Waymo aims to eventually gain permission to operate at San Francisco International Airport. They have a temporary permit for mapping the area, which involves human drivers manually driving vehicles for now. This is part of a longer-term plan to make airport trips autonomous in the future.
Waymo’s expansion includes ongoing efforts across multiple cities like Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, demonstrating its growing footprint in automated mobility services.