San Francisco, California – Alphabet’s Waymo has announced that its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, is now available to the general public in San Francisco. This marks a significant expansion nearly four years after a similar launch in Phoenix, Arizona.
Waymo began testing its autonomous vehicles in San Francisco in 2021 with a specialist onboard. Since then, approximately 300,000 people have signed up for the service, indicating strong demand. The company previously opened access to everyone in Phoenix in 2020. Now, anyone in San Francisco can request a ride through the Waymo One app.
Waymo emphasizes safety and sustainability as core principles. The company has operated in San Francisco for several years, providing tens of thousands of weekly trips. Notably, Waymo’s fleet is all-electric and uses 100% renewable energy from the city’s CleanPowerSF program. Since August 2023, Waymo’s rides have reduced carbon emissions by an estimated 570,000 kg, supporting California’s ride-hail emissions goals.
Safety remains a top priority for Waymo. The company has logged over 20 million rider-only miles and nearly 2 million paid public trips, demonstrating a strong safety record. Waymo claims that its autonomous vehicles avoid high-severity collisions better than human drivers, with fewer insurance claims and police reports.
Waymo’s service has integrated seamlessly into San Francisco’s social fabric. Around 30% of rides are to local businesses, and over half of the riders have used Waymo for medical appointments. Additionally, 36% of rides connect to other transit forms like BART or Muni.
Waymo’s inclusive approach extends to supporting Spanish and Chinese languages, ensuring a diverse group of riders can use the service. Testimonials from local community leaders and residents highlight the positive impact on personal safety and mobility.
The expansion comes amid tight regulatory scrutiny and competition from rivals like General Motors-backed Cruise and Amazon’s Zoox. Waymo received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission in March to operate in Los Angeles and nearby cities. However, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has raised concerns about the performance of Waymo’s self-driving vehicles, citing nine additional incidents.
Despite these challenges, Waymo continues to collaborate with city and state officials, first responders, and road safety advocates to ensure its service benefits the community and enhances road safety.
By providing safe, sustainable, and reliable transportation, Waymo is poised to become an integral part of the city’s transportation network.
For those interested in experiencing autonomous rides, the Waymo One app is available for download on the App Store and Google Play.