Waymo launches driverless car service in Dallas
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A Waymo Jaguar SUV parked outside San Antonio City Hall. Photo: Madalyn Mendoza/Axios
Driverless Waymo rides have started in Dallas, with limited ridership at first.
Why it matters: Waymo's debut turns futuristic tech into a commuting option, moving the technology past its testing phase and into daily life.
Driving the news: The car service launched driverless rides in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday.
- A limited selection of riders who've downloaded the Waymo app will receive invitations starting Tuesday. More invites will roll out in phases, with service expected to open to everyone later this year.
The big picture: Dallas residents are likely getting used to seeing autonomous cars covered in cameras driving around town. Uber launched its robotaxi service in parts of the city in December.
- And Waymo's Jaguar I-Pace SUVs have been traveling through the city for months.
Zoom in: Waymo's service will be limited to Bishop Arts, Downtown, Deep Ellum, East Dallas, the Park Cities and South Dallas at first.
- The service won't be available north of Northwest Highway and covers only part of Lake Highlands and the Love Field area.
Follow the money: Fares will be "comparable" to Uber and Lyft, per Waymo.
- Because there's no driver, riders won't tip. And without drivers, Waymo doesn't offer bonuses or incentives that can cause price swings on other ride-hailing apps.
How it works: Riders request a car through the Waymo app. It also allows them to choose a pickup point and unlock the vehicle when it arrives.
- A spinning rooftop light displays the passenger's initials. The app can also unlock the hatchback.
- Inside, riders can adjust the temperature, play music and watch a live map showing nearby vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians as the car navigates.
- Waymo's system combines machine learning with lidar, radar and camera sensors to continuously scan its surroundings.