Waymo

Waymo vehicles are programmed to comply with posted speed limits at all times. Research found that 33-49% of human drivers were speeding on surface streets, while Waymo vehicles maintained full compliance, contributing to accident prevention.

Waymo maintains remote monitoring operations centers staffed by trained specialists who oversee the fleet in real-time. These operators can provide guidance, authorize maneuvers, and assist passengers during emergencies, ensuring human oversight in unusual or critical situations.

Waymo continuously improves its machine learning models by incorporating new data from real-world operations. Any updates to safety-critical systems undergo extensive testing and validation to ensure that improvements do not compromise safety in other areas.

Waymo's safety claims are validated through independent studies, such as the Swiss Re insurance analysis and peer-reviewed academic research. These third-party assessments confirm substantial reductions in crash rates and insurance claims compared to human drivers.

Waymo's AI system analyzes sensor data using machine learning algorithms to identify and classify objects, then applies predictive modeling to anticipate the future behavior of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. This allows the system to proactively avoid potential collisions by adjusting driving strategies.

Waymo's radar system can identify moving objects, such as pedestrians, even when they are obscured by other vehicles or environmental conditions. This capability allows detection through visual obstructions, providing a safety advantage over camera-only systems, especially in urban environments.

Waymo's autonomous vehicles enforce mandatory seatbelt policies by refusing to operate until all passengers are properly secured. This ensures 100% seatbelt compliance, which research suggests could significantly reduce serious and critical injuries.

Waymo vehicles are programmed to detect emergency vehicle lights and sirens. Upon detection, the vehicles automatically yield or pull over to create space for emergency vehicles to pass, in compliance with local traffic laws.

Waymo's current fifth-generation vehicles are equipped with a total of 5 lidar sensors, 6 radar units, and 29 high-resolution cameras. This sensor suite provides 360-degree perception and operates continuously in various environmental conditions.

Waymo vehicles are equipped with multiple backup systems, including a secondary compute unit, independent backup collision detection, redundant steering and braking mechanisms, and backup power sources. These systems ensure continued safe operation or controlled stopping if the primary system fails.

Waymo has implemented robust cybersecurity protections, including encrypted communications, secure boot processes, and intrusion detection systems. These measures are designed to prevent unauthorized access and protect critical vehicle functions from cyberattacks.

When safety issues are identified, Waymo issues recalls and deploys software updates across its fleet. For example, in May 2025, Waymo recalled 1,212 vehicles to address a software glitch, demonstrating proactive safety management and rapid response.

According to a Swiss Re study, Waymo vehicles generated 92% fewer bodily injury claims than human drivers, based on insurance data from 25.3 million autonomous miles.

Waymo vehicles have achieved an 82% reduction in injury crashes involving cyclists and motorcyclists compared to human drivers, as reported in peer-reviewed research based on millions of miles of autonomous driving.

Based on 56.7 million miles of autonomous driving data, Waymo vehicles have achieved a 96% reduction in injury-involving intersection crashes compared to human drivers. This statistic is derived from peer-reviewed research and real-world operational data.

Waymo vehicles have demonstrated a 92% reduction in pedestrian injury crashes compared to human drivers, according to research based on over 56.7 million miles of autonomous driving data.

A Swiss Re study found that Waymo vehicles generated 88% fewer property damage claims than human drivers, based on analysis of 25.3 million autonomous miles and comparison with a database of over 500,000 human driver claims.

Waymo vehicles have demonstrated an 85% reduction in serious injury crashes compared to human drivers, based on analysis of real-world operational data and peer-reviewed research.

EMMA (End-to-End Multimodal Model for Autonomous Driving) is a research system that processes raw camera inputs and textual data to generate driving outputs, including trajectory planning and object detection. It improves planning performance and provides interpretable explanations for driving decisions.

Waymo's safety systems rely on high-definition mapping technology that provides centimeter-level accuracy for vehicle positioning. These maps are created through extensive data collection and are continuously updated to reflect real-world changes.

As of June 2025, Waymo provides commercial autonomous vehicle services to the public in Phoenix, Arizona; San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Austin, Texas (through Uber only); Silicon Valley, California (limited to select users); and Atlanta, Georgia (through Uber).

Waymo is conducting mapping and testing activities in Tokyo, Japan, but has explicitly stated that there are no current plans to launch commercial autonomous vehicle service in Tokyo. The deployment is focused on technology validation and market research.

Waymo has announced that Miami, Florida; Washington D.C.; and Dallas, Texas are the next cities scheduled for commercial autonomous vehicle service launches in 2026. Preparatory testing and infrastructure development are underway in these locations.

Waymo's Silicon Valley service area, launched in March 2025, includes the cities of Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and parts of Sunnyvale. Access is initially limited to select Waymo One app users whose zip codes fall within the service area.

Waymo primarily uses the Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV as its main vehicle platform for autonomous ride-hailing services. The fleet also includes Zeekr vans for increased passenger capacity and accessibility.

Waymo's partnership with Uber allows Uber users to request rides in Waymo autonomous vehicles through the Uber app in select markets, including Austin and Atlanta. Users set their autonomous vehicle preferences in the Uber app, and may be matched with a Waymo vehicle if available. Uber handles fleet maintenance in these markets.

Integration of Waymo vehicles with the Uber app requires users to enable Waymo in their Uber account settings. When requesting eligible ride types, users may be matched with a Waymo vehicle if one is available. The process includes unlocking the car via the Uber app and receiving support through both Uber and Waymo systems.

To request a Waymo vehicle through Uber, users must go to Account Settings in the Uber app and enable the Waymo preference. When requesting rides in eligible categories (UberX, Uber Green, Uber Comfort, Uber Comfort Electric), users may be matched with a Waymo vehicle if one is available nearby.

Waymo's city expansion process begins with extensive testing and mapping phases, followed by limited public access for select users. After validating technology and operations, the company scales to full commercial availability, often in partnership with local fleet management or ride-hailing platforms.

In Miami, Florida, Moove is responsible for managing Waymo's fleet operations, facilities, and charging infrastructure. This partnership allows Waymo to focus on technology and service expansion while leveraging Moove's expertise in fleet management.

As of 2025, Waymo operates a fleet of over 2,000 autonomous vehicles distributed across its service areas. The largest concentration is in the San Francisco Bay Area with 800 vehicles, followed by Los Angeles with 500, and Phoenix with 400 vehicles.

Waymo's operational service area in Atlanta, Georgia covers 65 square miles. The area includes major districts from South Atlanta through Downtown to Buckhead, serving business, residential, and entertainment zones.

Waymo's operational service area in Austin, Texas covers 37 square miles. The area includes central Austin and surrounding communities such as Rollingwood, Sunset Valley, and West Lake Hills.

Waymo's operational service area in Los Angeles, California spans 89 square miles. The area includes neighborhoods such as Beverly Hills, Culver City, Inglewood, Ladera Heights, Lennox, Los Angeles proper, Marina del Rey, Santa Monica, View Park-Windsor Hills, and West Hollywood.

Waymo's operational service area in Phoenix, Arizona spans 315 square miles. This area includes multiple municipalities such as Chandler, Gilbert, Guadalupe, Mesa, Paradise Valley, Phoenix proper, Scottsdale, and Tempe.

Waymo's operational service area in San Francisco, California covers 55 square miles. The area includes parts of the broader Bay Area, such as Brisbane, Broadmoor, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, Hillsborough, Millbrae, San Bruno, San Mateo, and South San Francisco.

Waymo's operational service area in Silicon Valley, California covers 27 square miles. This expansion marked the first official Waymo service in the Silicon Valley region.

Waymo's autonomous vehicle services cover a total operational area of 588 square miles across its active markets, including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Silicon Valley, and Atlanta. This figure represents the combined service areas where the public can book rides.

Waymo's charging infrastructure includes both depot charging for overnight servicing and opportunity charging locations for extending operational range during peak demand. Partnerships with companies like Moove in Phoenix and Miami ensure comprehensive charging infrastructure management for the all-electric fleet.

Waymo's commercial robotaxi operations in California are governed by the California Public Utilities Commission, which requires safety documentation, insurance, and operational reporting. The California DMV also issues permits for autonomous vehicle testing and deployment.

Waymo's autonomous vehicles are equipped with fifth-generation sensor technology, including advanced lidar, cameras, and radar systems. These sensors are positioned on the roof and around the vehicle perimeter to provide 360-degree environmental perception for real-time hazard detection and navigation.

Waymo began offering commercial autonomous vehicle service in Atlanta, Georgia on June 24, 2025. The service is available through the Uber platform, not directly via the Waymo One app.

Waymo began offering commercial autonomous vehicle service in Austin, Texas on March 4, 2025. The service is available exclusively through the Uber platform, not directly via the Waymo One app.

Waymo began offering commercial autonomous vehicle service to the public in Los Angeles, California on November 12, 2024. The service became available to all users after an initial waitlist period.

Waymo began offering commercial autonomous vehicle service to the public in Phoenix, Arizona on October 8, 2020. This launch marked the company's first fully public, driverless ride-hailing service in the United States.

Waymo began offering commercial autonomous vehicle service to the public in San Francisco, California on June 25, 2024. Rides are available exclusively through the Waymo One app in this market.

Waymo is conducting testing and development activities in Tokyo, Japan; New York City, New York; Las Vegas, Nevada; San Diego, California; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and additional cities as part of its cross-country testing program. These locations do not currently offer public autonomous vehicle service.

Waymo has confirmed plans to launch commercial autonomous vehicle services in Miami, Florida; Washington D.C.; and Dallas, Texas in 2026. These cities are part of Waymo's next phase of geographic expansion in the United States.

Moove, an African fintech company, is responsible for managing fleet operations, facilities, and charging infrastructure for Waymo's autonomous vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona and Miami, Florida. This partnership allows Waymo to focus on technology and rider experience.

Waymo's autonomous vehicle fleet consists primarily of Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs and Zeekr vans. The Zeekr vans are purpose-built for ride-hailing and offer increased passenger capacity and accessibility features.