Waymo launches public rides in Tampa
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A Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco. Photo: Heather Diehl/Getty Images
Waymo's self-driving taxis are now accepting riders in Tampa.
Why it matters: Thousands of Tampeños have already signed up for the autonomous ride-sharing service, according to Waymo.
State of play: The robotaxis will serve a roughly 50-square-mile area of Tampa, from Hyde Park to Northwest Park and Temple Crest and from the Westshore area to Highland Pines in East Tampa.
- The company will invite new riders on a rolling basis, it said in a news release. Waymo will send invitations to select users who have downloaded the app.
Catch up quick: The public launch follows months of testing and mapping with Waymo employees at the wheel.
- Waymo's fleet consists of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles, equipped with sensors and cameras mounted on their roofs. In June, the company purchased a warehouse in Town 'n' Country to house them.
The big picture: The Waymo rollout adds to Tesla's robotaxi service, which launched in Tampa over the summer.
- Waymo may also make the hop over the bay into Pinellas County; the company met with St. Petersburg officials about expanding the service.
Friction point: Waymo has seen a bumpy road during its launch in other cities.
- A vehicle in Austin blocked an ambulance from responding to a mass shooting, while another robotaxi in San Francisco last year ran over a beloved bodega cat named Kit Kat.
Yes, but: An independent study recently found that Waymo's robotaxis are involved in fewer crashes than human drivers.