Waymo запускает тесты роботакси в трех новых городах, приближаясь к прибыльности Headline: Waymo Launches Robotaxi Tests in Three New Cities, Approaching Profitability

Waymo, the subsidiary of Alphabet, plans to expand its robotaxi service to Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans, according to a report by CNBC.

Initially, test rides will involve human drivers, with a launch of fully autonomous taxis anticipated in 2026. This move will increase the number of planned expansions to a total of 15 cities.

A pilot launch is set to take place in the coming weeks in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Miami, and Orlando. The company had previously announced plans to introduce services in Detroit, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, San Diego, Washington, and London.

Currently, the service is operational in Austin, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, having completed over 10 million paid rides since its launch in 2020.

Last week, Waymo began offering routes on highways in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, marking a significant milestone for the company and the robotaxi industry, particularly given the challenges associated with operating autonomous vehicles at high speeds.

Next year, the company aims to tackle another crucial challenge: operating in markets with harsh winter conditions.

«We are testing our system’s ability to operate in severe weather conditions, including subzero temperatures, snow, and hail,» stated Waymo representative Ethan Thacher.

Despite the confident strides made by Waymo and other American players in the driverless taxi sector, Chinese companies are rapidly expanding their operations overseas.

«I believe robotaxis have reached a turning point both here in China and in the U.S.,» said Baidu CEO Robin Li, adding that many individuals have already experienced rides and shared positive feedback on social media. The widespread acknowledgment of the advantages of this mode of transport could expedite obtaining regulatory approvals.

Li’s remarks echoed the optimistic statements made by NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and Xpeng President Brian Gu. The latter has shifted from a cautious stance after witnessing rapid progress, as his company plans to launch a robotaxi service in Guangzhou, China next year.

Chinese firms claim they are nearing profitability in the robotaxi business.

In the past 18 months, Baidu, Pony.ai, and WeRide have partnered with Uber to enable the hailing of driverless taxis in specific locations.

Such partnerships «will be crucial for success,» as they allow for more efficient operations and quicker paths to profitability, according to senior analyst Murtuza Ali from Counterpoint.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that in September, Amazon entered the race for driverless transportation in the U.S., with Zoox’s first public launch occurring on September 10 in Las Vegas Strip.

In July, Joby Aviation delivered its first flying taxi to the UAE and completed pilot tests, with a service launch in the region expected in 2026.