FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Waymo Rolls Out Self-Driving Taxis

Waymo has set a new standard for driverless-vehicle proponents and ride-hailing providers by launching Waymo One, a revenue-generating autonomous transportation service.

Tariq Kamal
Tariq KamalFormer Associate Publisher
Read Tariq's Posts
December 5, 2018
Waymo Rolls Out Self-Driving Taxis

Self-driving, revenue-generating taxis have officially hit the streets of Chandler, Ariz., and other Phoenix-area cities.

Photo courtesy Waymo

2 min to read


PHOENIX — Wednesday marks the official debut of Waymo One, a new taxi service launched by Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google. A group of 400-plus Phoenix-area early adopters will have 24-hour access to an unknown number of Waymo’s 600-unit fleet of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids through a proprietary smartphone app.

Much like ride-hailing leaders Uber and Lyft, Waymo’s app allows users to store their credit card information, check availability and price, and contact the service. Unlike its competitors, Waymo’s vehicles navigate in “fully” autonomous mode — for the moment, every unit will be accompanied by a human driver tasked with intervening in emergencies.

Ad Loading...

Waymo units have been tested on public roads throughout the U.S., tallying more than 10 million miles, many of them in the Arizona cities of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Tempe.

In March, a Tempe woman was struck and killed by an Uber-operated SUV while walking her bicycle across the street at night. The Uber unit failed to stop and the vehicle’s “safety driver” failed to react in time. Despite that incident and others, Arizona remains a friendly regulatory environment for autonomous vehicle testers. No federal guidance on the technology appears to be immediately forthcoming.

“Over time, we hope to make Waymo One available to even more members of the public as we add vehicles and drive in more places,” wrote CEO John Krafcik in a blog entry Wednesday. “Self-driving technology is new to many, so we’re proceeding carefully with the comfort and convenience of our riders in mind.”

Topics:Showroom

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Showroom

Photo of sold Ford store exterior
Showroomby Hannah MitchellMay 11, 2026

Mid-Atlantic Ford Store Has New Owner

A growing Maryland automotive group is only the 93-year-old dealership’s third owner after its longtime proprietors retired.

Read More →
groundbreaking ceremony for new Barrington Porsche dealership with Murgado Automotive Group and Joseph Nicholas Construction
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceMay 11, 2026

Porsche Dealership Breaks Ground in Illinois

Barrington Porsche will be the new location for Murgado Automotive Group’s existing Porsche dealership currently in the Motor Werks of Barrington auto mall.

Read More →
aerial view of Fireside Honda in Ohio
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceMay 6, 2026

Michigan Auto Group Acquires Ohio Rooftops

Feldman Automotive Group added two new brands, Honda and Toyota, to its portfolio with its latest acquisition of four Fireside dealerships in Ohio.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of Scout Terra pickup truck outside farm building
ShowroomMay 4, 2026

California VW Dealers Go After Scout

The franchisees’ state-level actions follow a California auto dealers trade group lawsuit against the VW affiliate last year, both efforts to stop the EV maker’s plan to sell direct to consumers.

Read More →
Photo of rear of Mercedes VLE passenger van
Showroomby Hannah MitchellApril 27, 2026

EVs Gain Traction in Europe

First-quarter auto sales increased as more consumers took advantage of government incentives. Hybrid deliveries are leading the way on the electrifieds boom.

Read More →
road winding through redwood trees, California EV Market Cools, F&I and Showroom logo
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceApril 22, 2026

California Holds EV Lead Despite Annual Decline

At nearly 14%, California had the lowest zero-emission vehicle market share in the first quarter since the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the California New Car Dealers Association.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of Ford F-150 grill with nameplate
Showroomby Hannah MitchellApril 20, 2026

Will Extended-Range Autos Make Inroads?

EREVs, also known as ‘series hybrids,’ may catch on in the U.S., where they currently have barely a toehold, as automakers tilt away from some purely electric models and consumers crave more range.

Read More →
Cars on road in European city
Showroomby Hannah MitchellMarch 30, 2026

Electrifieds Lead EU New-Vehicle Sales

Hybrids in particular lead not only EV market share but all power trains on the continent so far this year as gas and diesel continue their decline.

Read More →
Hyundai steering wheel, black leather
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceMarch 30, 2026

Hyundai Expands North American Footprint

Building on a previously announced $26 billion U.S. investment, Hyundai said it will grow its North American lineup and U.S.-based production and parts sourcing.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Image of Honda 'H' emblem
Showroomby Hannah MitchellMarch 25, 2026

Afeela EV Brand Fails to Leave the Factory

Sony-Honda venture cancels two planned models, the first of which had been pegged for a mid-2026 California delivery debut. The brand’s direct sales had been challenged by the state’s auto dealers, but the venture cites Honda’s EV retreat.

Read More →