Waymo, the autonomous car company backed by Google's parent company Alphabet Inc., has announced plans to launch its "robotaxi" service in Detroit this winter. This move marks the latest expansion of Waymo's services, which already operate in San Diego and Las Vegas.
The company expressed excitement about bringing its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to Motown, citing the city's rich history as a pioneering force in automotive innovation. In a nod to Detroit's engineering roots, particularly at Novi, where Waymo has maintained an engineering team for years, the company acknowledged its familiarity with the city's streets.
Waymo has been testing its capabilities in winter weather conditions, including snow and ice, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The company expressed confidence that its 6th-generation Waymo Driver would be well-equipped to navigate Detroit streets this winter.
The launch of robotaxi services in Detroit comes as a significant step forward for individuals with epilepsy, who often face transportation barriers. The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan praised organizations like Waymo for providing accessible and safe transportation solutions, noting that their efforts inspire collective action towards a future where such barriers are no longer an obstacle to opportunities.
As part of the launch preparations, Waymo is inviting interested individuals to sign up for updates on its Detroit operations. However, before deploying the robotaxi service commercially, Waymo must obtain approval from Michigan authorities to operate driverless cars.
This latest move by Waymo underscores the company's commitment to expanding its autonomous taxi services across various US cities, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, where it already operates.
The company expressed excitement about bringing its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to Motown, citing the city's rich history as a pioneering force in automotive innovation. In a nod to Detroit's engineering roots, particularly at Novi, where Waymo has maintained an engineering team for years, the company acknowledged its familiarity with the city's streets.
Waymo has been testing its capabilities in winter weather conditions, including snow and ice, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The company expressed confidence that its 6th-generation Waymo Driver would be well-equipped to navigate Detroit streets this winter.
The launch of robotaxi services in Detroit comes as a significant step forward for individuals with epilepsy, who often face transportation barriers. The Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan praised organizations like Waymo for providing accessible and safe transportation solutions, noting that their efforts inspire collective action towards a future where such barriers are no longer an obstacle to opportunities.
As part of the launch preparations, Waymo is inviting interested individuals to sign up for updates on its Detroit operations. However, before deploying the robotaxi service commercially, Waymo must obtain approval from Michigan authorities to operate driverless cars.
This latest move by Waymo underscores the company's commitment to expanding its autonomous taxi services across various US cities, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, where it already operates.
I mean, have you seen those things? They're like giant metal pods just cruising around without a human in charge. What's next, drones delivering pizzas to our doors? It's like we're sleepwalking into a sci-fi movie or something.
this winter! i'm low-key hyped for the robotaxi service to finally hit motown 
it's about time we get safer & more accessible transportation options esp for ppl with epilepsy 
waymo's been testing their 6th-gen driver in mich's uppers and they say it's ready for detroit's snowy streets 
fingers crossed they make it happen soon!
omg i'm so hyped about waymo launching robotaxi in detroit!! 
plus, it's awesome that they're testing their 6th-gen waymo driver in the snow and ice - that shows they really care about making this work 
hopefully, they'll get the approval from michigan authorities soon so we can start riding ASAP 
. We all know how tough the weather can be in Michigan, but I'm sure their 6th-gen Waymo Driver will handle it just fine 
. It's also great to see them focusing on expanding access for people with epilepsy who often struggle with transportation 
. Sign me up for those updates! It'll be exciting to see how this service works out in the city, especially with all the engineering expertise they've got rooted in Novi 
. It's fascinating that they've been testing their 6th-gen driver in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during winter conditions 
. Now, let's see how the regulatory approval process unfolds in Michigan 
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they're finally bringing robotaxi service to detroit!!! i've heard their 6th-gen waymo driver is super accurate even in bad weather conditions, so i'm sure it'll navigate those detroit streets like a pro 
. plus, it's gonna make a huge difference for people with epilepsy who face transportation barriers 
. can't wait to see this happen and become a part of the robotaxi revolution! 
. Detroit's got a rich history of automotive innovation, and it's dope to see Waymo embracing that spirit.
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. The Epilepsy Foundation of MI is hella proud of Waymo 4 doin this 
. I mean, its not just abt the tech, its bout makin a diff in people's lives 
!
. But for real, it's awesome that they're focusing on making transportation more accessible for people with epilepsy – that's some next-level empathy right there 
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Like, what's with all these tests in the Upper Peninsula? Can't they just figure out how to handle iced-over streets in Detroit without losing a few drivers?! 
And don't even get me started on how many times we'll have to hear "this is going to be life-changing" for people with epilepsy... 
Yeah, yeah, I get it. You're trying to do some good. But come on, can you just deliver the service without all the fanfare?! 
?
this is so cool!!! 
Detroit! 
I'm hyped about how this will help people with epilepsy 
it's not fair that they can't use taxis like everyone else. 