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Waymo announced on Tuesday that it is continuing to scale up its self-driving taxi service in the Peninsula to parts of Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Los Altos Hills.
The Mountain View-based company, a subsidiary of parent company Alphabet, says it is expanding its California service by over 80 square miles, marking its third rollout in the Peninsula in less than a year.
The autonomous vehicle company is operating in other major metropolitan areas as well, including Los Angeles County, part of the current expansion, as well as Phoenix and Austin.
“We’re very proud of this progress – we’re the first AV service operating at real scale and we continue to see growing demand and trust in our services,” Waymo said in a June 17 press release.
But it has not been an entirely smooth ride for the robotaxi company, at least during its initial expansion efforts.
Last August, Waymo surprised local officials when it expanded its services from San Francisco to Daly City, Broadmoor and Colma. At the time, legislators expressed concerns about the rollout of the robotaxis, advocating for tighter regulations and local control.
Currently, driverless vehicles require a permit from the DMV to operate and if carrying passengers, approval from the California Public Utilities Commission. Companies do not need approval from local jurisdictions.
The autonomous vehicle industry has argued that a patchwork of regulations across different cities would impede technological innovation. The industry also touted its safety record, noting that autonomous vehicles are involved in less collisions than human-driven vehicles.
Since then, Waymo has continued its expansion in the Peninsula. In March, it returned to its roots in Mountain View and started offering rides to select users of the Waymo One app, with pricing set by distance, trip duration and demand.
The company says it will continue to work with local partners and policymakers to ensure its services help communities access reliable and safe transportation, and has received the support of several local nonprofits.
“At the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation, we are excited to welcome Waymo’s expansion into Silicon Valley. As a community-driven organization committed to accessibility, sustainability, and innovation, we recognize the profound benefits autonomous driving technology can bring to our residents,” said Crysta Krames, LAMVCF executive director.
“Waymo’s presence will provide a safe, reliable, and eco-friendly transportation option – especially for seniors, people with disabilities, and those facing mobility challenges,” Krames said in the press release.
Currently, Waymo is the sole commercial robotaxi operator in the U.S. The company says it has provided over 10 million paid rides and serves a quarter of a million paid trips per week across all of its markets, a fivefold increase from this time a year ago, according to the press release.
Lower peninsula rollout is still limited to testers (invite only) right now.