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Waymo expands D.C. footprint amid lobbying for council bill
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A Waymo lot in San Francisco, shown inside it's future D.C. service facility. Photo: Cuneyt Dil/Axios
Waymo says it just leased a third D.C. location, but its robotaxi rollout is still pending a council bill.
Why it matters: The company wants to show council members skeptical about job losses that it's already putting down roots and ready to invest more.
State of play: Waymo's third location is its largest yet locally, meant to support EV charging and vehicle maintenance, says Matt Walsh, the company's east coast policy chief.
- Waymo declined to give specifics like the addresses of its facilities or their total anticipated investment in D.C. ("tens of millions of dollars" and "hundreds of jobs").
- But Walsh gave reporters a tour of a separate facility it's constructing in Northeast on Wednesday. The 32,000-square-foot space is across from a Metrobus depot and will act like a tire-and-repairs center for its Jaguar SUVs tricked out with radars and sensors.
- Jobs include maintenance technicians (hefty EVs wear out tires faster), "autonomous specialists" for its testing vehicles, and vehicle cleaners.
What's ahead: Walsh says Waymo continues to push back against the council bill's proposed 200-vehicle cap.
- The company believes existing ride-hailing companies have upwards of 3,000 vehicles on D.C. streets.
- The D.C. Council could make a final vote on the pending bill this coming fall or winter. If approved, service wouldn't begin until 2028.