Dive Brief:
- Waymo announced Dec. 5 plans to begin 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.
- Electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles will carry passengers in Miami when Waymo service begins, the company said in a press 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.
Dive Insight:
Waymo began service in Phoenix in 2017 with a public trial of driverless ride-hailing vehicles. It presently operates robotaxis in San Francisco and Los Angeles in addition to the Phoenix metropolitan area.
“Fully autonomous driving technology offers a safe and convenient option to the people of Miami,” said the city’s mayor, Francis Suarez, in a statement. “Waymo’s commitment to sustainability with their all-electric fleet is the perfect mobility option to our city as we continue to prioritize low cost, clean energy.”
Moove said in a press release that it will take over Waymo’s fleet operations in Phoenix next year and help the robotaxi company expand in Miami in 2026. Autonomous ride-hailing services can help “reduce urban congestion, enhance safety, and transform cities into hubs of connectivity, efficiency, and sustainability,” Moove said.
Waymo may be looking to outsource more of the business operations associated with robotaxis while concentrating on developing self-driving technology, TechCrunch reported. But Waymo is not alone in the competition 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 in Atlanta and Austin, Texas. Lyft said it has completed some 130,000 autonomous rides so far, mainly in Las Vegas where Lyft partners with Motional, and will add AVs to its platform in Atlanta through a collaboration with May Mobility.
