Waymo Dramatically Expands Austin robotaxi Service Area,Doubling Tesla‘s Reach
Waymo has significantly expanded its fully autonomous robotaxi service area in austin,Texas,increasing its operational geofence from 37 to 90 square miles. This ample growth now encompasses new neighborhoods including Crestview, Windsor Park, Sunset Valley, and Franklin Park, along with popular destinations like The Domain and McKinney Falls State Park.
The expansion, announced by Uber, waymo’s partner for ride-hailing services in Austin, aims to make Waymo’s autonomous vehicles accessible to a larger segment of the city’s population. Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber, stated that the expanded territory is a “key milestone” and will allow “even more riders to experience Waymo’s fully autonomous vehicles through the Uber app.”
Shweta Shrivastava, Senior Director of Product Management at Waymo, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, noting that the service with Uber is “healthy” and that more Austinites will now have the opportunity to experience autonomous driving. She highlighted Austin’s status as a fast-growing city and Waymo’s commitment to growing alongside it.
This expansion brings Waymo’s total service area across the U.S. to over 700 square miles, with existing operations in California and Arizona. The move is seen as a direct response to Tesla’s recent robotaxi geofence expansion in Austin, which was described as “interestingly-shaped” and perhaps a playful jab at competitors. The ongoing competition between Waymo and Tesla in Austin is expected to benefit consumers as both companies vie for a larger operational footprint.The article suggests that tesla may now be compelled to move beyond its more “comical” approach to geofence expansion.
