Waymo Expands Driverless Taxis to Denver, Seattle in Weather Tests

Waymo, the self-driving technology company owned by Alphabet, is expanding its autonomous electric taxi service to Denver and Seattle, marking a significant test of its vehicles in challenging weather conditions such as rain and snow. Initially, the company will deploy a limited fleet of manually driven vehicles to collect data on local driving environments before transitioning to fully driverless operations, with Denver expected to offer public driverless rides next year. This expansion is part of Waymo's broader plan to launch in ten new cities during 2025, adding to existing services in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta. Waymo's vehicles, including the Jaguar I-Pace and the Zeekr RT electric van, utilize sensors like cameras, radar, and LiDAR combined with AI and high-definition maps to navigate safely, boasting 88% fewer injury or worse crashes compared to human-driven cars. The company is actively collaborating with local officials and agencies in Denver to ensure safe and effective integration into the city's transportation system. Despite some past incidents and challenges in difficult weather, Waymo emphasizes ongoing improvements and safety as it prepares to scale its autonomous rideshare services.