Waymo is an autonomous ride-hailing service that sends driverless vehicles to pick riders up and drive them to their destination, formerly the Google self-driving car project. The company says it has served over 20 million rides with a 93 percent rider satisfaction rate and that its Waymo Driver cuts serious injury crash rates by more than 92 percent where it operates. Riders request a car in the Waymo app, check an estimated fare before confirming, and ride day or night, with service available around the clock in supported cities.
Waymo is for urban commuters, airport travelers, night-out riders and anyone who prefers not to drive or share a car with a stranger. People who cannot drive, including riders who are blind, describe gaining independent travel. Business travelers visiting cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles or Austin can hail a car on arrival, and residents can replace part of their weekly driving with rides. Because the cars are private, passengers choose their own music and climate settings.
Common uses include a daily commute without parking costs, an airport trip, a late dinner when you would rather not drive, and a ride home after an event. Service covers a growing list of areas including the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas and Houston, with rides in Austin and Atlanta available through Uber. Cities listed as up next include New York, Boston, Chicago, London and Tokyo. Fares combine a minimum price, trip distance and time, and Las Vegas rides use a base of $9.49 plus per-mile and per-minute rates.
