Waymo Robotaxi Rides Approved at San Jose Airport

Waymo Gains Approval for San Jose Airport Robotaxi Service

Waymo has received authorization to begin operations at its inaugural California airport: San Jose Mineta International. The company declared on Thursday its intention to initiate testing of its autonomous vehicles at the location in the approaching months.

Commercial rides are projected to become available before the year concludes. This development marks a significant milestone for Waymo’s expansion plans within its home state.

Previous Airport Service Attempts

Prior efforts to secure access to San Francisco’s airport in 2023 were unsuccessful. However, earlier this year, Waymo obtained permission to commence mapping the airport, representing an initial phase toward potential commercial deployment.

Success at Phoenix Sky Harbor

Waymo initially introduced curbside service at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport in late 2023. This service was subsequently upgraded to 24/7 availability in August 2024.

The company reports having facilitated “hundreds of thousands” of trips to and from the Arizona airport, establishing it as the most frequented destination within Phoenix for their robotaxi service.

Rapid Expansion of Waymo’s Fleet

Waymo is currently experiencing a period of substantial growth. The company’s nationwide fleet comprises over 2,000 robotaxis.

• Approximately 800 vehicles operate in the Bay Area.
• Around 500 are deployed in Los Angeles.
• 400 vehicles serve the Phoenix area.
• 100 operate in Austin.
• “Dozens” are currently running in Atlanta.

Future Expansion Plans

Earlier this week, Waymo unveiled plans to extend its service to Denver and Seattle. Previously, the company announced the launch of commercial operations in Dallas, Miami, and Washington, D.C.

Furthermore, Waymo has recently been granted approval to begin testing its vehicles within New York City, signaling continued ambition for widespread deployment of its autonomous technology.