Short dive:
- Waymo announced Dec. 5 plans to launch autonomous ride-hailing service in Miami early next year. The self-driving technology company, owned by Google parent Alphabet, previously said it will bring robotaxis to Atlanta and Austin, Texas, in 2025, in partnership with Uber.
- Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles will carry passengers in Miami when Waymo service begins, the company said in a news release.
- Waymo will partner with Moove, a global mobility fintech company, to manage fleet operations, facilities and charging infrastructure in Miami. Moove has offices in several cities across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and India providing vehicle financing and fleet management.
Diving information:
Waymo began service in Phoenix in 2017 with a public trial of driverless ride-hailing vehicles. It currently operates robotaxis in San Francisco and Los Angeles as well as the Phoenix metro area.
“Fully autonomous driving technology offers a safe and convenient option for Miamians,” the city’s mayor, Francis Suarez, said in a statement. “Waymo’s commitment to sustainability with its all-electric fleet is the perfect mobility option for our city as we continue to prioritize clean, low-cost energy.”
Moove said in a news release that it will take over Waymo’s fleet operations in Phoenix next year and help the robotaxi company expand to Miami in 2026. Autonomous ride-hailing services can help “reduce urban congestion, increase security and transform cities into hubs of connectivity, efficiency and sustainability,” said Moove.
Waymo may look to outsource more of its business operations associated with robotaxis by focusing on developing self-driving technology, TechCrunch reported. But Waymo isn’t alone in competing to enter new markets.
Uber plans to provide autonomous rides in San Francisco through a partnership with Cruise in 2025 and is expanding its relationship with Waymo to Atlanta and Austin, Texas. Lyft said it has completed about 130,000 autonomous rides so far, mostly in Las Vegas, where Lyft partners with Motional, and will add AVs to its platform in Atlanta through a partnership with May Mobility.