Waymo Expands Autonomous Taxis Across U.S. Cities Amid Global Competition

Waymo, owned by Alphabet, is expanding its autonomous vehicle operations both domestically and internationally, including talks to trial self-driving taxis in Australia and plans for Tokyo and London. The company has made significant technological advancements with its 6th-generation AI hardware, enabling reliable operation in challenging weather conditions such as snow, which sets it apart from competitors like Tesla and Cruise. In the U.S., Waymo is testing autonomous vehicles with drivers in the Seattle and Bellevue areas as it works with regulators on safety and legal frameworks, while also expanding its fleet in Los Angeles, where autonomous taxis are gaining passenger acceptance and competing with traditional rideshare services. Safety regulations remain a key focus, with lawmakers pushing for stricter requirements and accountability for autonomous vehicles. Meanwhile, Chinese companies like Baidu's Apollo Go and Pony AI are aggressively expanding their robotaxi services domestically and internationally, intensifying global competition in the autonomous vehicle market. This growth signals a broader industry trend toward widespread adoption of autonomous ride-hailing services amid evolving regulatory and technological landscapes.