Waymo Expands to Pittsburgh: AV Tech Hub

Waymo Expands Autonomous Vehicle Development to Pittsburgh

Waymo, formerly Google’s self-driving car initiative and now a distinct business under Alphabet, is broadening its operational footprint into the eastern United States.

The company announced on Thursday the establishment of a new office in Pittsburgh. This move positions Waymo among an increasing number of organizations engaged in the development and evaluation of autonomous vehicle technologies within the city.

Initial Hiring and Collaboration

Approximately a dozen engineers will be initially recruited for the Pittsburgh location, according to a source with knowledge of the expansion. These new hires will be integrated into Google’s current office space in the Bakery Square area.

Currently, Waymo’s website lists only three open positions specifically for the Pittsburgh region. However, the company anticipates adding further roles in the near future.

Acquisition of RobotWits’ Intellectual Property

A portion of the new team will be comprised of personnel from RobotWits, a Pittsburgh-based technology startup specializing in autonomous vehicle decision-making processes.

This includes Maxim Likhachev, the founder and CEO of RobotWits, alongside other members of its engineering and technical staff. While not a formal acquisition of the company itself, Waymo has secured the intellectual property rights previously held by RobotWits.

Focus on Software Development, No Immediate Deployment

There are no immediate plans to deploy the Waymo Driver, the company’s autonomous driving system, within Pittsburgh. The source clarified that the newly formed team will concentrate on several key areas of development.

These areas include motion planning, real-time route optimization, and further refinement of the Driver platform. Currently, the Waymo Driver is operational in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area.

Furthermore, Waymo Via, the company’s trucking and cargo service, is scheduled for a pilot program with J.B. Hunt Transport Services in Texas.

Pittsburgh as an Autonomous Vehicle Hub

Aurora, Motional, and Argo AI, all competitors in the autonomous vehicle sector, have already established a presence in Pittsburgh.

Combined with the talent pool available at Carnegie Mellon University, the city has solidified its position as a significant center for autonomous engineering innovation.

Pittsburgh also supports a number of smaller autonomous vehicle startups, such as Locomation, which is focused on the development of autonomous trucking solutions.

Expanding Global Network

The new Pittsburgh office will complement Waymo’s existing locations in Mountain View, San Francisco, Phoenix, New York, Dallas, and Hyderabad, India.

This expansion demonstrates Waymo’s commitment to advancing autonomous vehicle technology across multiple regions.