Waymo is pushing further into autonomous ride-hailing, with new testing rights at major airports and a deal to integrate its robotaxis into city transit networks.
This week, the Alphabet-owned company was granted a permit to begin testing at San Francisco International Airport, just two weeks after receiving approval to operate at San Jose Mineta International Airport. Airports have long been key battlegrounds for ride-hailing companies, and Waymo is clearly setting its sights on expanding access for robotaxi users.
Related: Lyft And May Mobility Begin Robotaxi Service In Atlanta.
At the same time, Waymo has partnered with transit software company Via to connect robotaxis directly with public transit systems. The first rollout will take place in Chandler, Arizona, where riders using the city’s Chandler Flex on-demand fleet may be redirected to a Waymo vehicle if one of the traditional vans isn’t available. The ride will cost $2 or less, heavily subsidized to encourage use.
While not immediately profitable, the partnership represents a volume play for Waymo and could scale to hundreds of cities if successful. Via CEO Daniel Ramot has said he hopes this model will spread widely, giving local governments new ways to blend autonomous vehicles into public transportation.
These moves highlight how the “race” for autonomous vehicles is less about speed and more about reach and integration. With airports and transit agencies in focus, Waymo is working to carve out lasting advantages in the robotaxi market.
