Waymo has begun autonomous ride-hailing operations in Miami, Florida, covering a 60-square-mile service area stretching from the design district to South Miami. This marks the sixth city covered by Waymo's level 4 driverless taxis, following Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Austin.
The company's primary competition is Tesla, which has recently started its first driverless taxi operation in limited form. Miami is a notoriously chaotic city to drive in, making it an ideal location for experimental driverless taxis.
Waymo's system has experience with difficult locations, including Venice Beach and San Francisco. To start, users from a waitlist of around 10,000 residents will be invited to take rides in the new service area.
The company aims to expand its coverage areas and offer services in 11 more cities, as well as two overseas locations, London and Tokyo. Waymo claims its driverless taxis result in a ten-fold reduction in serious injuries and has released studies based on internal data shared with the public.
Tesla's primary competitor at this time is Waymo, which uses LiDAR sensors for its level 4 system, whereas Tesla relies on vision-only sensors. The two companies differ in their approach to self-driving technology, with Waymo's system being more robust and cost-effective.
The launch of Waymo's driverless ride-hailing operations in Miami marks an exciting milestone for the autonomous vehicle industry. With its level 4 system, Waymo is poised to provide a safe and efficient transportation option for residents and visitors alike.
