Waymo Expands Autonomous Taxi Testing to Denver, Seattle

Waymo is expanding its autonomous taxi service into Denver and Seattle, continuing its growth beyond cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin. In both new locations, the rollout will begin with human drivers onboard to conduct safety testing before transitioning to fully autonomous rides. In Seattle, Waymo's electric Jaguar I-Pace SUVs have been spotted during initial testing phases around the Northgate light rail station and downtown Bellevue, though no official launch date has been announced. The deployment in Seattle depends on the completion of safety testing and the passage of state-level legislation authorizing autonomous vehicle services. Local officials in Denver and Seattle have expressed support for Waymo's innovative and climate-friendly transportation technology, emphasizing its potential to make streets safer and more accessible. Waymo’s testing in the Seattle area includes adapting the vehicles to wet weather and hilly terrain, reflecting the company's cautious, phased approach to launching driverless taxi services.