Google 'Waymo' Autonomous Taxi Pilot Service

Free Rides in San Francisco
Drivers Onboard to Prepare for Emergencies

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Waymo, Google's autonomous driving subsidiary, is launching a pilot robo-taxi (autonomous taxi) service in San Francisco, USA. Since ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are most active in this area, successfully operating a robo-taxi service here is expected to help Waymo generate revenue in the future.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 24th (local time), Waymo will start offering robo-taxi services to selected passengers in San Francisco from that day. San Francisco residents can apply to participate in the test drive through the 'Waymo One' application (app). Riding the vehicle is free, but passengers cannot bring others along. A human driver will be on board to prepare for unexpected situations. However, signing a confidentiality agreement is a condition.

WSJ analyzed that "the pilot operation in San Francisco will be a crucial test for Waymo both technologically and commercially."

Waymo chose San Francisco as a test bed because it is considered an important market in the technology competition. San Francisco is the area with the most ride-hailing drivers such as Uber and Lyft, and if autonomous taxi services succeed here, it is expected to help Waymo generate profits in the future.

WSJ reported that currently, eight companies have permits to test autonomous vehicles without human drivers in California, and Waymo regards General Motors (GM)'s Cruise as its most advanced competitor among them.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.