Updated: Waymo Looks to Expand While Cruise is Down and Out

by Chris Teague

Published: January 22nd, 2024

waymo looks to expand while cruise is down and out

Updated with new information from Waymo after publication. We corrected dates for the company's Arizona operations, and Waymo noted that its expansion plans are not tied to Cruise's in any way.

General Motors’ Cruise has had a rough few months, ending with it pulling back on autonomous testing efforts across the country. Now, Alphabet’s Waymo is looking to expand, asking the California Public Utilities Commission for permission to grow its services in Los Angeles.

Waymo already has a large operational footprint in San Francisco and is testing rides in Los Angeles, but they’re only by invitation. It announced on X that it would work with local officials, including first responders and lawmakers, to get the service up and running in the city. It has offered paid commercial services in Phoenix since 2020 and offers several routes around the city, including to the airport. Waymo plans to expand to Austin, TX, at some point soon.

It's worth speculating that Cruise’s troubles might have caused a slight pause in Waymo’s expansion, as the GM-backed entity ran afoul of public sentiment and safety. But, while Cruise paused operations and shook up its executive staff, Waymo’s temporary slowdown appears to be over as it plans these expansions.

The caution with which Waymo is approaching new markets should serve as a reality check for buyers hoping to get their hands on an autonomous vehicle. Even the most advanced driver assistance systems can’t yet take the place of a human driver, and automakers’ sometimes-confusing marketing language isn’t helping.

[Image: Sundry Photography via Shutterstock]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.

#Waymo #gmcruise #AutonomousVehicles

Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

More by Chris Teague

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 6 comments

SCE to AUX on Jan 22, 2024

"...should serve as a reality check for buyers hoping to get their hands on an autonomous vehicle"

At best, this would be a niche market - bar/anti-DUI rides, people without driver's licenses, people with certain physical limitations, etc. Rental might even be more popular than owning.

No matter, the legal liability hurdles will be insurmountable because there will be no tolerance for error.

1 Reply
Redapple2 on Jan 22, 2024

CruiseSTUPID will not be stopped. Cash burn is what EvilGM does well.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Theflyersfan With sedans, especially, I wonder how many of those sales are to rental fleets. With the exception of the Civic and Accord, there are still rows of sedans mixed in with the RAV4s at every airport rental lot. I doubt the breakdown in sales is publicly published, so who knows... GM isn't out of the sedan business - Cadillac exists and I can't believe I'm typing this but they are actually decent - and I think they are making a huge mistake, especially if there's an extended oil price hike (cough...Iran...cough) and people want smaller and hybrids. But if one is only tied to the quarterly shareholder reports and not trends and the big picture, bad decisions like this get made.
Wjtinfwb Not proud of what Stellantis is rolling out?
Wjtinfwb Absolutely. But not incredibly high-tech, AWD, mega performance sedans with amazing styling and outrageous price tags. GM needs a new Impala and LeSabre. 6 passenger, comfortable, conservative, dead nuts reliable and inexpensive enough for a family guy making 70k a year or less to be able to afford. Ford should bring back the Fusion, modernized, maybe a bit bigger and give us that Hybrid option again. An updated Taurus, harkening back to the Gen 1 and updated version that easily hold 6, offer a huge trunk, elevated handling and ride and modest power that offers great fuel economy. Like the GM have a version that a working mom can afford. The last decade car makers have focused on building cars that American's want, but eliminated what they need. When a Ford Escape of Chevy Blazer can be optioned up to 50k, you've lost the plot.
Willie If both nations were actually free market economies I would be totally opposed. The US is closer to being one, but China does a lot to prop up the sectors they want to dominate allowing them to sell WAY below cost, functionally dumping their goods in our market to destroy competition. I have seen this in my area recently with shrimp farmed by Chinese comglomerates being sold super cheap to push local producers (who have to live at US prices and obey US laws) out of business.China also has VERY lax safety and environmental laws which reduce costs greatly. It isn't an equal playing field, they don't play fair.
Willie ~300,000 Camrys and ~200,000 Accords say there is still a market. My wife has a Camry and we have no desire for a payment on something that has worse fuel economy.