Waymo Launches Autonomous Vehicle Testing in Denver, Seattle

Waymo, the autonomous driving service owned by Google, announced its entry into the Denver market with an initial exploratory phase involving a mixed fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs equipped with 5th-generation software and Chinese-made Zeekr vans with 6th-generation software designed for harsh weather. The company plans to start operations with manually driven vehicles before gradually introducing fully autonomous rides, aiming to launch commercial robotaxi services in Denver next year. This expansion into Denver, along with Seattle, presents an opportunity to test Waymo's technology in challenging weather conditions like snow and rain. Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston have expressed support for the company's arrival, highlighting its potential to enhance transportation safety, reduce traffic deaths, and offer climate-friendly transit options. While Waymo has a strong safety record with 85% fewer serious injury collisions compared to human drivers over millions of miles, the rollout still faces skepticism from labor groups concerned about job displacement and safety advocates questioning the readiness of autonomous technology. Denver joins other U.S. cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, where Waymo already operates, with plans to continue expanding to cities including Dallas, Miami, Washington, D.C., and New York City.