Waymo at 1,000 Riders: The Self-Driving Frontrunner Inches Forward
The first mover in the emerging robotaxi business has a new deal with Lyft, a smooth ride, and slow growth.
The side mirror of a Waymo autonomous vehicle in Arizona
Photographer: Caitlin O'Hara/BloombergThe first major self-driving taxi service needed six months to reach 1,000 customers, another sign that growth may be slow as companies try to build businesses around autonomous vehicles.
Waymo, the self-driving project owned by Alphabet Inc., announced on Tuesday that it has enrolled 1,000 customers for its ride-hailing service in suburban Phoenix. Chief Executive Officer John Krafcik touted the milestone while revealing plans to allow select Lyft Inc. users in Arizona to hail Waymo taxis. The Google off-shoot is currently the only self-driving company carrying paying customers on public roads, although often monitored by human safety drivers.