Waymo vehicles have made their way to Seattle and are already making an impact in the region.
Just a week after announcing their plans to test autonomous taxi rides, Waymo’s electric Jaguar I-Pace SUVs have been seen cruising around the streets.
- A recent photo shared on Reddit captured several of these cars parked at the Link light rail station in Northgate.
- Another image showed a Waymo car waiting at a traffic light in downtown Bellevue, Washington.
- In the comments section of the post, a distinct white vehicle equipped with camera technology was spotted merging onto I-405.
Although these vehicles currently have drivers onboard for safety testing, the ultimate goal is to operate autonomously. Testing will involve ensuring that Waymo cars can navigate Seattle’s unique roadways, including challenging conditions like rain and hills.
While there is no set date for the launch of robotaxis in Seattle, it will depend on the completion of safety testing with drivers and eventually without passengers. Additionally, state regulations need to be established to permit such operations in Washington.
Waymo, based in Mountain View, California, and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., began its journey in autonomous driving in 2009 as the Google Self-Driving Car Project. The company has previously conducted tests in Kirkland in 2016 and Bellevue in 2022 to enhance its understanding of operating in rainy conditions.
