Waymo's self-driving robotaxis are coming to Los Angeles, expanding their service to the bustling city.

 Waymo, the self-driving technology unit of Alphabet Inc., has announced its plans to expand its autonomous vehicle operations to Los Angeles, with the goal of launching a robotaxi service in the city in the coming months. This marks a significant milestone as it becomes the third market targeted by Waymo, following its successful deployments in Phoenix and San Francisco.

The company has been actively mapping the heavily trafficked areas of Los Angeles since 2019, laying the groundwork for its expansion into the city. As part of the initiative, Waymo will deploy a fleet of electric Jaguar I-Pace SUVs that are equipped with advanced technologies, including laser lidar units, cameras, radar, and other sophisticated sensors. Initially, these vehicles will transport Waymo employees as the company continues testing and refining its autonomous driving systems.

Chief Product Officer Saswat Panigrahi expressed Waymo's commitment to providing a 24/7 fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in Los Angeles, similar to the offerings in Phoenix and San Francisco. However, specific details regarding the number of vehicles involved and the timeline for the public launch of the ride service were not disclosed.

Waymo believes that the transition to Los Angeles presents a relatively smooth process from a technical perspective, as the city shares similarities with its previous markets. San Francisco offers a dense urban environment, while Phoenix provides the experience of higher-speed suburban roads. Leveraging the knowledge gained from these cities, Waymo aims to tackle the unique challenges presented by Los Angeles' complex and unpredictable traffic patterns.

This expansion comes at a time when the timeline for the widespread availability of self-driving vehicles has faced some setbacks. While Waymo, along with other notable players in the autonomous vehicle industry like General Motors' Cruise, Ford's Argo AI, and Hyundai-backed Motional, are operating autonomous vehicle programs in major U.S. cities, access to the general public remains limited.

Waymo, which originated as Google's self-driving car project in 2009, has secured approximately $3 billion in funding in recent years to support its ambitious expansion plans. The company has been operating its commercial service, Waymo One, in the Phoenix area since 2020, but it has yet to launch the service in San Francisco. Additionally, Waymo has been actively involved in autonomous truck operations through its Waymo Via unit in Texas, alongside its delivery service in Phoenix.

Saswat emphasized the significant technological challenge that lies ahead for Waymo and the industry as a whole. Driving autonomous vehicles in complex and unpredictable traffic conditions at speeds of up to 45 mph is an intricate task that requires continuous advancements in technology and safety measures.

With a population of approximately 13 million residents, the Los Angeles metro region represents a highly appealing commercial opportunity for Waymo. As the third-largest ride-hailing market in the U.S., the city has the potential to generate an estimated worth of $2 billion by 2022, making it an attractive destination for Waymo's expansion efforts.

Despite the complexities and uncertainties associated with autonomous driving, Waymo remains committed to pushing the boundaries of self-driving technology and revolutionizing the way people travel, aiming to create a future where autonomous vehicles play a significant role in urban mobility and transportation.