Waymo is an American autonomous driving technology development company that is a subsidiary of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc. Waymo originated as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009. In 2016, the project was renamed Waymo, an acronym for "a new way forward in mobility".
Waymo's self-driving technology uses sensors and software to perceive the world and execute driving maneuvers. The company has been testing its technology with Chrysler Pacifica minivans outfitted with Waymo's self-driving hardware and software. In October 2017, Waymo and Jaguar Land Rover announced plans to develop autonomous vehicles together, with the goal of putting up to 20,000 self-driving Jaguar I-PACE electric SUVs on the road by 2022.
In December 2018, Waymo announced that its vehicles had driven 10 million miles (16 million km) on public roads, and 5 billion miles (8 billion km) in simulation.
Can I ride in a Waymo?
Yes, you can ride in a Waymo, but there are some caveats. First, you need to be in one of the cities where Waymo is operating: Phoenix, AZ; Mountain View, CA; Kirkland, WA; or Austin, TX. Secondly, you need to sign up for the Waymo One app and be approved to become a rider. Once you're approved, you can hail a Waymo like you would a taxi or an Uber.
What does Waymo company do? Waymo is a self-driving technology company that is part of the Alphabet Inc. group of companies. The company began as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, and has since been working to develop and commercialize self-driving technology. Waymo is widely considered to be at the forefront of the self-driving industry, and its technology has been used in a number of different applications, including ride-hailing, logistics, and personal transportation. Is Waymo still owned by Google? Yes, Waymo is still owned by Google. Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, created Waymo in December 2016 as a standalone self-driving technology development company.
Is Waymo open to public? From what I can tell, Waymo is not currently open to the public. However, they are testing their self-driving cars on public roads in a few select cities. So far, they seem to be focused on testing in Phoenix, Arizona and Mountain View, California. What cities is Waymo in? As of September 2020, Waymo is operational in six U.S. cities: Atlanta, Austin, Detroit, Kirkland (Washington), Phoenix, and San Francisco. The company is also testing its vehicles in several other locations, including Toronto, Canada.