Waymo expands operations in Phoenix
Google’s robotaxi subsidiary Waymo spread out in Phoenix Thursday, marking its biggest expansion in months. Google's robotaxi subsidiary, Waymo, has expanded its operations in Phoenix, marking its biggest expansion in months. The expansion includes an additional 90 square miles of accessible area, giving riders access to the Desert Ridge and Paradise Valley neighborhoods. This expansion means that nearly half of the city is now open to Waymo customers, nearly three years after the firm began testing in the area. The company has also improved its robotaxis, adding music options and sharing location details with contacts. The rapid growth has led to safety concerns, with videos of Waymo robotaxis violating traffic laws and collisions involving the vehicles. Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into Waymo after discovering over two dozen traffic incidents involving the company's robotaxis.
Publicados : 10 meses atrás por The Washington Times https://www.washingtontimes.com, Vaughn Cockayne no Auto
Google’s robotaxi subsidiary Waymo spread out in Phoenix Thursday, marking its biggest expansion in months.
The upshift includes an additional 90 square miles of accessible area in the Arizona capital, giving riders access to the Desert Ridge and Paradise Valley neighborhoods.
This week’s expansion means that nearly half the city is open to Waymo customers, nearly three years after the firm began testing in the area.
The expansion also comes with improved Waymo robotaxis. Customers now have added music options during their rides and can share location details with their contacts.
The Arizona bulge comes during a year of rapid growth for Waymo, the dominant force in automated taxis. After successful launches in Phoenix and San Francisco, the company started operations in Los Angeles.
The widening map has sparked frustration from safety experts and citizens who feel the technology is unsafe. Videos of Waymo robotaxis violating traffic laws have gone viral, and collisions involving the vehicles have caught the attention of federal regulators. Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into Waymo after discovering over two dozen traffic incidents involving the company’s robotaxis.