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Waymo to Expand Robotaxi Operations to Miami by 2026

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Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company, is preparing to launch its robotaxi service in Miami. The company announced on Thursday that it will begin testing its self-driving vehicles in the city with human safety drivers in 2025, with plans to open its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the public by 2026 via the Waymo One app.

This move highlights Waymo’s growing confidence in operating its autonomous vehicles in challenging weather conditions, a significant milestone for scaling its operations in major metropolitan areas across the U.S.

Building Expertise in Adverse Weather

Waymo’s decision to target Miami follows earlier testing in the city in 2019, during which the company focused on refining its vehicles’ ability to handle wet and rainy conditions.

“We deepened our learning and understanding of the Waymo Driver’s performance in adverse weather conditions,” a spokesperson for the company said.

When Waymo resumes operations in Miami in 2025, it will deploy its all-electric Jaguar I-PACE fleet. The initial service territory will encompass select parts of Miami’s larger metropolitan area, home to over 6 million people.

Recent Expansion and Strategic Partnerships

Waymo’s Miami plans come amid rapid nationwide growth. In November, the company removed its waitlist of 300,000 people in Los Angeles, making its robotaxi service available to all across nearly 80 square miles. It also operates citywide in Phoenix and San Francisco, offering more than 150,000 paid rides weekly through the Waymo One app.

In September, Waymo partnered with Uber in Austin and Atlanta to integrate its robotaxis into the Uber app starting in 2025. Uber will oversee fleet management and vehicle maintenance under the partnership.

Waymo also announced a new collaboration with mobility company Moove, which will handle fleet operations, charging, and facilities for Waymo vehicles in Miami and Phoenix. Moove will begin managing Waymo’s Phoenix fleet in early 2025.

Funding and Competition

Waymo secured $5.6 billion in funding in October, led by parent company Alphabet and backed by investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Fidelity, and Silver Lake. These funds are driving the company’s expansion across the U.S.

While Waymo leads in commercial robotaxi operations across multiple cities, competition is intensifying.

  • Cruise (owned by GM) is working to resume services after halting operations following a pedestrian-injury accident in San Francisco.
  • Tesla plans to launch a self-driving ride-hailing service by 2025 but still classifies its current Full Self-Driving system as partially automated.
  • Amazon-owned Zoox and SoftBank-backed Wayve are testing autonomous vehicles, with Zoox focusing on cars without steering wheels.

What’s Next for Waymo

With Miami as its next target, Waymo continues to solidify its position as a leader in autonomous transportation. The company’s expansion underscores its ambition to operate in diverse environments, making robotaxis a reliable and accessible mode of transportation for millions across the U.S.

Baidu Secures License to Test Autonomous Vehicles in Hong Kong

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Baidu’s Apollo robotaxi service has received approval to test autonomous vehicles in Hong Kong, marking the company’s first license for self-driving car trials outside mainland China. Hong Kong’s Transport Department announced Friday that Baidu Apollo International Ltd is authorized to conduct tests with 10 autonomous vehicles in the North Lantau region.

The license, valid from December 9, 2024, to December 8, 2029, will initially permit only one autonomous vehicle on specified road sections at a time. A backup operator will be required to remain onboard to take control of the vehicle if needed during the trials.

This approval is the first issued under Hong Kong’s new regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, introduced in March 2023. While the Hong Kong government has promoted autonomous vehicle technology since 2017, public road trials have been limited until now.

Baidu’s Apollo Go service operates across several mainland Chinese cities, including Wuhan, where it manages a fleet of over 400 autonomous vehicles, the largest in the region. With competition in the autonomous vehicle sector intensifying, Baidu aims to expand its robotaxi services internationally to locations such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East, according to recent reports.

The Hong Kong trial represents a significant step in Baidu’s global ambitions for its autonomous vehicle program and underscores the city’s evolving stance on integrating cutting-edge technology into its transportation ecosystem.

 

Automakers Push Trump Administration to Retain EV Tax Credits and Promote Self-Driving Cars

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Key Appeals from Automakers

Preserve EV Tax Credits

  • The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing major automakers like General Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen, has urged President-elect Donald Trump to retain the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric vehicle (EV) purchases.
  • Eliminating the credit, a move reportedly under consideration by Trump’s transition team, could further stall the already sluggish EV adoption in the U.S.

Encourage Self-Driving Cars

  • Automakers emphasized the need for federal initiatives to accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles, pointing out that China is already creating a supportive regulatory framework for self-driving technology.

Reconsider Stringent Safety and Emission Rules

  • The group expressed concerns over existing and proposed regulations:
    • Vehicle Emissions: They called for “reasonable and achievable” standards, arguing that current regulations—especially in California and aligned states—raise consumer costs and fail to align with market realities.
    • Automatic Emergency Braking Systems: Automakers requested a review of rules requiring advanced braking systems in nearly all new vehicles by 2029, deeming them technologically unfeasible under current conditions.

Regulatory Backdrop and Political Shifts

Trump Administration’s Proposed Rollbacks

  • The Trump transition team is reportedly planning to:
    • Eliminate the EV tax credit.
    • Target Biden-era regulations aimed at improving fuel efficiency and mandating at least 35% EV production by 2032.

Contrasts with Biden’s Policies

  • The Biden administration’s measures incentivize EV production and aim for a gradual shift away from fossil-fuel-powered vehicles.
  • Automakers fear losing ground against China, where EVs benefit from heavy subsidies and favorable policies.

Industry Concerns and Market Impacts

Global Competition

  • Automakers cited unfair competition from Chinese EVs and technologies benefiting from substantial subsidies.
  • The industry is seeking U.S. regulatory adjustments to remain competitive internationally.

Consumer Costs

  • The automakers argued that inconsistent emissions regulations across states increase costs for buyers.

Technology Feasibility

  • Automakers flagged potential challenges in meeting both safety and emissions standards without significant technological advancements or support.

Implications

For EV Transition

  • Removing the EV tax credit could dampen consumer interest and investment in EV infrastructure.
  • The U.S. risks lagging behind other nations, particularly China, in EV and autonomous technology adoption.

For Federal Policy

  • The automakers’ letter highlights tensions between federal and state regulations, particularly California’s more stringent policies.
  • Balancing consumer affordability, industry competitiveness, and environmental goals remains a significant challenge for the incoming administration.