ORLANDO, Fla. \u2014 Driverless taxi service Waymo will begin full autonomous testing of its cars in Central Florida in the coming weeks and will begin offering paid rides in the region next year, a company spokesperson announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n
When the switch happens, it will make Orlando the US\u2019 10th city to have driverless Waymo cars ferrying passengers \u2013 and giving the Alphabet (Google)-owned company a huge marketing tool with the region\u2019s status as an international tourism destination.<\/p>\n
Since Waymo debuted in Orlando in March, its cars have always had an employee behind the wheel. That will be set to end as the company begins testing the cars\u2019 autonomous capabilities against Florida\u2019s aggressive drivers using data they\u2019ve collected by driving nearly every square inch of road in the tourism district to map signage and patterns.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled that Waymo plans to bring its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to Orlando, and to the tens of millions of visitors we host each year,\u201d Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer wrote in a statement, promising to be one of the first riders. \u201cWaymo will be another exciting transportation option for the region that will enhance the investments we are already making in reducing congestion and increasing road and pedestrian safety.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orlando will not be Waymo\u2019s first Florida city. Its round of five upcoming launches will include Miami, which will be the next city to get the service. The other cities include Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.<\/p>\n
Waymo already operates in Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco, where it recently won approval to make trips to the city\u2019s airport after previously being blocked. It also recently allowed its cars to travel on California and Arizona highways and plans to roll the capability out in Atlanta and Austin next, after keeping its cars on local roads.<\/p>\n
Waymo said it would announce more details about the date Orlando will get a full launch and where its cars will operate at a later date.<\/p>\n
Click here<\/a> to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here<\/a> to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.<\/p>\n