Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous ride-hailing company, is expanding its operations to Chicago, starting with mapping and manual vehicle testing. This move is part of Waymo's effort to scale its business and test its technology in a dense, cold-weather city. The company aims to improve road safety and accessibility and is coordinating with local leaders.
Waymo is expanding into Chicago as it works to scale its autonomous ride-hailing business beyond its existing markets and establish a foothold in the Midwest. The Alphabet-owned company said Wednesday it has begun "laying the early groundwork" for operations in the city, starting with mapping and manual vehicle testing – a phase that typically precedes a broader commercial rollout.
A timeline for fully driverless public service in Chicago was not immediately disclosed. Chicago would mark one of Waymo’s largest urban expansions to date and represents a key test of its technology in a dense, cold-weather city known for harsh winters and complex traffic conditions. The company is seeking to expand its autonomous ride-hailing footprint as competition intensifies in the robotaxi sector. Waymo says its "AI-first" autonomous driving system has logged more than 127 million fully autonomous miles. According to company data, its vehicles are involved in up to 10 times fewer serious injuries or worse collisions and 12 times fewer pedestrian collisions compared with human drivers in the markets where it currently operates. TESLA DODGES CALIFORNIA LICENSE SUSPENSION AFTER DROPPING MISLEADING 'AUTOPILOT' MARKETING TERMS The company framed the Chicago push as part of a broader effort to improve road safety and accessibility while supporting local economic growth. Waymo said it is coordinating with community leaders and policymakers as it begins operations. "Chicago is leading the future of mobility by welcoming Waymo to begin initial mapping and manual testing in the city," Kam Buckner, speaker pro tempore of the Illinois House of Representatives, said in a statement. He added that the move represents "a vital step toward safer streets and more accessible transportation" and positions Illinois as a hub for 21st-century innovation. Safety advocates also expressed cautious optimism. Erin Doherty, regional executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Illinois, said autonomous vehicles hold the promise of reducing crashes caused by impaired driving "if deployed responsibly and safely." Waymo’s expansion comes as major technology and automotive companies race to scale robotaxi services in large metropolitan markets. Chicago’s size and economic footprint could make it a significant proving ground for autonomous ride-hailing in the central U.S. CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO The company said residents can sign up for updates as it prepares for future public access to rides in the city. FOX Business has reached out to Waymo for additional comment.
Waymo Autonomous Vehicles Robotaxi Chicago Expansion
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Los robotaxis de Waymo se expanden a Texas y FloridaWaymo comenzará a despachar sus robotaxis en cuatro ciudades más de Texas y Florida, ampliando el territorio cubierto por su flota de vehículos autónomos a 10 grandes mercados metropolitanos de Estados Unidos.
Read more »
Is Waymo coming to Chicago? Social media users report sightings of autonomous taxisChicagoans reported seeing Waymos in town this week, begging the question of whether the autonomous taxi company is making moves into the Windy City.
Read more »
Waymo coming to ChicagoThe driverless car company based in Silicon Valley said it will start 'laying the early groundwork' for operations in Chicago.
Read more »
Waymo's Presence in Chicago Fuels Speculation on Autonomous Taxi ExpansionWaymo vehicles have been spotted in Chicago, prompting discussions about the potential for autonomous taxi services in the city. While the company's activities are currently focused on data gathering and mapping, the sightings have fueled public interest and speculation, especially as a pilot program for autonomous vehicles is considered in Illinois. The city is taking a cautious approach, prioritizing planning and public engagement before authorizing self-driving vehicle operations.
Read more »
Self-driving taxi service Waymo begins mapping out Chicago streetsIf you've ever taken a taxi, Uber or Lyft in Chicago you might be getting another rideshare option -- and this one drives itself.
Read more »
Waymo to bring driverless cars to Chicago, eyes Midwest expansionAlphabet’s Waymo is laying groundwork for driverless ride-hailing in Chicago, starting with mapping and manual tests as it expands beyond current markets.
Read more »