AUSTIN, Texas — More self-driving cars are back on the streets in Austin as Waymo officially launched its autonomous rideshare services in the Uber app.
For months, Waymo has been testing and collecting mapping data to learn Austin. The vehicles go into the city to map it, then figure out different nuances and intricacies to move around the city.
As of now, they’ll be driving around 37 square miles throughout Austin up from Rosedale to South Lamar and East Riverside.
“I think it’s going to be very interesting,” District 8 Councilmember Paige Ellis said. “There’s probably going to be folks in town that have never seen something like this.”
How does it work?
On the Uber app, you’ll be able to opt-in to be more likely to get rides from these autonomous vehicles. But if you are still hesitant about getting in a Waymo with no one behind the wheel, there’s still an option of turning down the driverless ride.
This isn’t the first time self-driving cars have tried to launch here in Austin.
In 2023, Cruise, a General Motors autonomous vehicle company, tried out their driverless fleet in Austin but had to pump the brakes after crashes involving their vehicles in other cities.
But some city leaders say they’re feeling more optimistic about this launch ahead of South By Southwest (SXSW) because the company has spent months testing here.
“I feel like this one in particular has been a good partner trying to make sure they’re operating within the rules that we have and to make sure that their technology is safe,” Ellis said.
Right now, Uber representatives said there are dozens of Waymo vehicles driving around Austin, but that will be scaled up to hundreds soon.