Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company, is bringing its all-electric robotaxi fleet to Miami, continuing its mission to redefine urban mobility. On my recent trip to San Francisco, I had the chance to ride in a Waymo, and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed. The experience was seamless, comfortable, and left me genuinely excited for this technology to arrive in Miami.
Key Points:
- Waymo will begin testing in Miami in early 2025, offering paid rides through the Waymo One app by 2026.
- The company is partnering with mobility firm Moove to manage fleet operations, facilities, and charging infrastructure
- Waymo currently provides over 150,000 paid rides weekly across Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin
- The expansion showcases Waymo's growing confidence in operating autonomous vehicles in challenging weather conditions
Between the lines: Waymo's announcement to expand into Miami comes as part of its broader effort to establish a nationwide autonomous ride-hailing network. Starting in early 2025, Miami residents will begin seeing Waymo's all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs on the road, with the service expected to be fully operational by 2026. These initial rides will feature human safety drivers before transitioning to a completely driverless experience.
But this isn't just another market expansion. Miami, with its unpredictable tropical weather and bustling tourist seasons, represents a strategic testing ground for Waymo's technology. The company actually cut its teeth here back in 2019, using Florida's famous afternoon showers to fine-tune their autonomous driving systems.
Zoom out: For context, Waymo's current operations are anything but experimental. The service handles more than 150,000 paid rides weekly across its existing markets. This Miami expansion comes on the heels of a $5.6 billion funding round, demonstrating strong investor confidence in Waymo's vision for the future of transportation.
Chris McKay
Waymo's collaboration with Moove, an African mobility fintech, plays a key role in this expansion. Moove, known for managing large electric vehicle fleets, will oversee the fleet operations, including facilities and charging infrastructure for Waymo’s cars in Miami and Phoenix. This partnership allows Waymo to focus more on advancing its autonomous driving technology, while Moove ensures the fleet runs smoothly on a day-to-day basis.
Ryan McNamara, Waymo's VP of Operations, emphasized the partnership’s value in scaling Waymo’s services effectively and maintaining a consistent, high-quality rider experience. Moove’s co-CEO, Ladi Delano, echoed this sentiment, stating that their operational expertise will help shape the future of urban mobility in collaboration with Waymo.
What they're saying: Miami's Mayor, Francis X. Suarez, warmly welcomed Waymo's arrival, noting the importance of sustainable, low-cost, all-electric transit options as the city grows. The expansion is also a testament to the ongoing transformation of Miami into a tech and innovation hub—a perfect setting for Waymo to further push the boundaries of what urban mobility can be.
Bottom line: From my personal experience in San Francisco, what stands out isn't just the technology – it's how quickly you forget you're in a self-driving car. And that's perhaps the most exciting part about Waymo coming to Miami: it's not just bringing new technology, it's bringing a new normal.