noticias
The parent company of Google will bring robotaxis to Miami.
Dec 30, 2024
Waymo plans to bring its autonomous vehicle service to Miami in the next two years.
Alphabet's (Nasdaq: GOOGL) subsidiary will begin testing its electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in the Magic City next year. Its goal is to offer passenger transport services through the Waymo One app by 2026. Rides will be provided through Waymo's fleet partnership with Moove, a mobility company based in Africa.
"Together, we will provide safe and smooth rides for passengers and scale up faster and more cost-effectively over time," said Ryan McNamara, Waymo's vice president of operations.
The company has already spent time testing its autonomous driving capabilities in Florida, an area distinguished from others due to rainy conditions. Based in Mountain View, California, Waymo has already completed approximately 150,000 trips per week in Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin.
It is unclear whether autonomous robotaxis are really safer than cars driven by humans. In April, the Association for Computing Machinery, a professional association for computer engineers, published a report stating that regulators “should not assume that fully automated vehicles will necessarily reduce injuries and fatalities on the roads.” This is because computer systems may be susceptible to software failures that could lead to driving errors.
Autonomous vehicle companies collect data from cameras, sensors, and other technologies through millions of miles driven on public roads. Waymo reports that its data indicates that its autonomous vehicles can help prevent collisions, reducing injuries and deaths from traffic accidents. According to a 2023 study, its autonomous vehicles are better than human drivers at avoiding certain non-fatal crashes.
In a statement, Miami Mayor Francis Suárez said that "fully autonomous driving technology offers a safe and convenient option for Miami residents."
Waymo is not the only autonomous vehicle company targeting South Florida. In August, Amazon announced that its autonomous vehicle entity, Zoox, will begin testing its vehicles on public roads in Miami and Austin.