(Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
After years of research and testing, Waymo has finally made its robotaxis available for public rides in Miami.
Starting today, the service will be operational in a geofenced 60-square-mile area of the city, covering the Design District, Wynwood to Brickell, Coral Gables, and other neighborhoods. In the future, Waymo aims to expand the service to Miami International Airport.
At launch, the rides will be limited to those who expressed interest and joined a waitlist. Since nearly 100,000 people had signed up, “we will be inviting new riders on a rolling basis to ensure a seamless experience,” Waymo said.
Its fleet operations in the city, including charging, cleaning, and repairs, will be handled by a mobility company called Moove.
Miami probably poses harsher weather conditions for Waymo than any of the other five cities where it's launched: Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Austin, and Atlanta. It began testing its driver system for the weather here in 2019, then returned in 2023, and eventually promised a launch in late 2024. Waymo now says its technology is ready “to handle the city’s unique environment, from the bright midday sun to sudden tropical downpours, ensuring a reliable service in diverse weather conditions.”
That said, the robotaxis came to a standstill in San Francisco last month after a power outage knocked out traffic signals and left the cars confused. They were reportedly stranded at intersections for hours before being forcibly removed. Last month, the company also had to issue a software update after the robotaxis failed to stop for school buses in Atlanta and Austin.
Waymo is reportedly doing 450,000 rides per week now, and is expected to arrive in Dallas, Houston, Orlando, and San Antonio this year. The company is also running trials in over a dozen other cities across the globe, including New York, Washington, DC, London, and Tokyo.
(Credit: Waymo)