Waymo expands in Phoenix area with new East Valley territory

The latest: The company announced Thursday that it's adding 55 square miles of the East Valley to its service area.

• That includes Gilbert and more of Chandler.
• Previously, Waymos didn't go east of State Route 87.
• And service will soon be expanded to Mesa Gateway Airport.

The big picture: The expansion increases Waymo's coverage area in the Valley to more than 350 square miles.

• That includes all of Phoenix and Scottsdale between State Route 51 and Loop 101, plus downtown and central Phoenix, Tempe, west Mesa and the western part of Chandler.

Catch up quick: Waymo pulled its cars from Valley freeways earlier this year for a software fix to help the vehicles better navigate construction zones.

• It restored service in late July, and the company tells Axios its new East Valley territory will be accessible by freeway.

Zoom in: Once Sky Harbor, Scottsdale Airpark and Mesa Gateway are all in the service area, the Valley will have more airport access from Waymo than any other city.

Flashback: Waymo introduced its driverless vehicles to the Valley in 2018 and launched its ride-hailing service to the public at large here in 2020.

What they're saying: "Waymo is coming to more riders both near and far. As we welcome new cities into our service, we are also deepening our investment in the communities we already serve," Waymo said in a statement provided to Axios.

• "Our 'land and expand' approach allows us to connect with more neighbors — ensuring we are there to support riders for everything from daily commutes and local errands to exciting nights out."

What we're watching: The company wouldn't comment on possible future expansion plans in the Valley.

🗣️ You tell us: Waymo covers a lot of ground in the Phoenix metro area, but major chunks of the Valley are still not covered.

• What part of town would you like to see Waymo expand into next? Send us a message: [email protected].