Waymo Expands Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service to Denver and Seattle, Testing Tech in Extreme Weather Conditions

Waymo unveiled plans Tuesday to deploy its autonomous vehicles – the Jaguar I-Pace SUV and Zeekr van – in Denver and Seattle, marking an expansion of its operations across the United States.

Beginning this week, these vehicles will be driven manually initially before Waymo initiates testing its autonomous technology in both cities. The company has expressed ambitions to commence offering robotaxi services in Denver by next year and in the Seattle metropolitan area as soon as regulatory approvals are secured.

Denver and Seattle represent two cities with extreme weather conditions, providing Waymo an opportunity to test its technology under snow, wind, and rain that is less prevalent in warmer climates such as Phoenix.

The addition of these new cities expands Waymo’s footprint in the U.S., where it already operates extensively. Last week, the company announced it boasts over 2,000 robotaxis nationwide, with 800 based in the San Francisco Bay Area, 500 in Los Angeles, 400 in Phoenix, 100 in Austin, and several dozen in Atlanta.

In addition to these locations, Waymo has also disclosed plans for commercial robotaxi services in Dallas, Miami, and Washington D.C., set to launch next year. The company recently secured a permit to initiate testing in New York City.

Furthermore, Waymo has explored various other cities, taking its vehicles on “road trips” to locations like Philadelphia and preparing for similar ventures in Las Vegas, San Diego, Houston, Orlando, and San Antonio.