Mexican Media Brands
Waymo Confirms Driverless Rides
Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo self-driving car unit has begun testing driverless rides as part of its robo-taxi pilot program in Chandler, Ariz.
Share
Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo self-driving car unit has begun testing driverless rides as part of its robo-taxi pilot program in Chandler, Ariz.
The so-called “rider-only” service, details of which were leaked earlier this month, allows a few hundred participants in the company’s early rider program to reserve a driverless vehicle, Waymo chief John Krafcik tells reporters in Detroit. He says users are required to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Riders are notified in advance that the vehicle won’t have a trained safety driver on board. They also are sent a link to a “what-to-expect” informational website about the program, according to earlier reports.
Waymo began offering free rides to select customers in autonomous Chrysler Pacifica minivans (with backup drivers) in Phoenix in April 2017. A for-pay pilot program was launched there last December.
Krafcik says Waymo also is moving forward with its self-driving commercial truck program with tests of specially fitted Peterbilt big-rigs in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan. He’s optimistic about such applications but points out that regulations currently don’t allow for driverless trucks.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Engineering the 2019 Jeep Cherokee
The Jeep Cherokee, which was launched in its current manifestation as a model year 2014 vehicle, and which has just undergone a major refresh for MY 2019, is nothing if not a solid success.
-
on lots of electric trucks. . .Grand Highlander. . .atomically analyzing additive. . .geometric designs. . .Dodge Hornet. . .
EVs slowdown. . .Ram’s latest in electricity. . .the Grand Highlander is. . .additive at the atomic level. . .advanced—and retro—designs. . .the Dodge Hornet. . .Rimac in reverse. . .
-
On Electric Pickups, Flying Taxis, and Auto Industry Transformation
Ford goes for vertical integration, DENSO and Honeywell take to the skies, how suppliers feel about their customers, how vehicle customers feel about shopping, and insights from a software exec
