Waymo expands driverless freeway service to San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles

Waymo is rolling its driverless vehicles onto freeways in three major US metro areas: San Francisco (with service stretching down the peninsula to San Jose Mineta International Airport), Phoenix and Los Angeles. The company says a growing number of public riders will gain access as the pilot expands.

Waymo emphasizes its experience on highways, noting its fleet has logged millions of miles and is designed to handle highway dynamics like lane changes, merges and variable speeds. The service can support daily commutes, airport trips and longer cross-city rides.

What’s new

• Freeway driving enabled in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles service areas.
• Public riders (in select zones) will be allowed to take highway trips, including airport runs.
• Waymo says the expansion builds on millions of freeway miles driven in testing and limited service.

Where Waymo is headed next

The company says more regions are coming: similar expansions are planned for Austin and Atlanta, while San Diego, Detroit and Las Vegas are slated to receive driverless fleets next year (initially without freeway driving). Waymo’s roadmap suggests a phased rollout as it validates safety and operational readiness.

What riders should know

• Availability is initially limited to certain neighborhoods and a growing subset of riders — check Waymo’s app or local announcements for eligibility and coverage maps.
• Even on freeways, early deployments are monitored and constrained by local regulations and safety reviews; service may expand gradually based on performance and oversight.
• If you spot one on the road, expect the distinctive LiDAR units on the roof — and possibly a new family road‑trip game.

For users and cities, freeway‑capable autonomous rides promise efficient commutes and longer-range trips without a human driver, but they also raise practical questions about safety oversight, routing, and rider access as deployments scale.

Learn more at Waymo or read hands‑on coverage and updates (opens in a new tab): Engadget.

Discussion: Would you trust an autonomous vehicle on the freeway for your commute or airport runs? What would you want to see to feel confident in freeway‑capable robotaxis?