Waymo: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=MayJuly 20222024}}

| type = [[Subsidiary]]

| hq_location_country = U.S.USA

| area_served = *[[Phoenix, Arizona]], [[UnitedUSA (Publicly Available) States]]

* [[San Francisco]] and [[Daly City]], California, UnitedUS States]](Publicly Available)

'''Waymo LLC''', formerly known as the '''Google Self-Driving Car Project''', is an American [[autonomous driving]] technology company headquartered in [[Mountain View, California|Mountain View]], [[California]]. It is a subsidiary of [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet Inc]], the parent company of [[Google]].

In fall 2015, Google provided "the world's first fully driverless ride on public roads".<ref name=":16" /> In December 2016, the project was renamed Waymo and spun out of Google as part of Alphabet.<ref name="journey" /> In October 2020, Waymo became the first company to offer service to the public without safety drivers in the vehicle.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |title=Waymo launches its first commercial self-driving car service |work=Engadget |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/12/05/waymo-one-launches/ |access-date=December 5, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=White |first=Joseph |date=October 8, 2020 |title=Waymo opens driverless robo-taxi service to the public in Phoenix |publisherwork=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-waymo-autonomous-phoenix-idUSKBN26T2Y3 |access-date=October 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2020 |title=Waymo Relaunches Driverless Ride Sharing |url=https://www.allaboutarizonanews.com/waymo-relaunches-driverless-ride-sharing/ |access-date=October 18, 2020 |website=All About Arizona News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Andrew J. |date=December 9, 2019 |title=Waymo's driverless car: ghost-riding in the back seat of a robot taxi |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/9/21000085/waymo-fully-driverless-car-self-driving-ride-hail-service-phoenix-arizona |website=The Verge}}</ref> Waymo currently operates commercial [[self-driving taxi|robotaxi]] services in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], [[Los Angeles]], and [[San Francisco]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Knoll |first1=Corina |title=When Nobody Is Behind the Wheel in Car-Obsessed Los Angeles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/us/los-angeles-waymo-driver.html |access-date=23 July 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=20 March 2024}}</ref> with new services planned in [[LosAustin, AngelesTexas]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Autonomous Ride-Hailing in Los AngelesAustin, CATexas |url=https://waymo.com/waymo-one-los-angelesaustin/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Waymo |language=en}}</ref> and{{As [[Austinof|2024|October}}, Texas]]it offers 150,000 paid rides per week totalling over 1 million miles weekly.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ohnsman |first=Alan |title=AutonomousAlphabet's Ride-HailingWaymo inLogging Austin150,000 TexasRobotaxi Rides And 1 Million Miles A Week |url=https://waymowww.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2024/10/29/alphabets-waymo-onelogging-austin150000-robotaxi-rides-and-1-million-miles-a-week/ |access-date=20232024-10-2730 |website=WaymoForbes |language=en}}</ref>

Waymo is run by co-CEOs [[Tekedra Mawakana]] and [[Dmitri Dolgov]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Waymo CEO John Krafcik steps aside as co-CEO's take over|url= https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/02/waymo-ceo-john-krafcik-steps-aside-as-co-ceos-take-over.html|access-date=April 2, 2021| publisher =CNBC|date=April 2, 2021}}</ref> The company raised US$5.5 &nbsp;billion in multiple outside funding rounds.<ref name="cnbc-may22" /> by 2022 and raised $5.6 billion funding in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=2024-10-25 |title=Alphabet's self-driving unit Waymo closes $5.6 billion funding round as robotaxi race heats up in the U.S. |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/25/alphabets-self-driving-unit-waymo-closes-5point6-billion-funding-round.html |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> Waymo has partnerships with multiple vehicle manufacturers, including [[Stellantis]],<ref name="Hawkins17">{{cite web |author=Andrew J. Hawkins |date=November 7, 2017 |title=Waymo is first to put fully self-driving cars on US roads without a safety driver |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/7/16615290/waymo-self-driving-safety-driver-chandler-autonomous |access-date=June 13, 2018 |publisher=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> [[Mercedes-Benz Group AG]],<ref>[https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/27/daimler-trucks-partners-with-waymo-to-build-self-driving-semi-trucks Daimler Trucks partners with Waymo to build self-driving semi trucks], TechCrunch, October 27, 2020</ref> [[Jaguar Land Rover]],<ref name="Bergen18">{{cite news |last1=Bergen |first1=Mark |last2=Naughton |first2=Keith |date=April 2, 2018 |title=Waymo isn't going to slow down now |newspaperpublisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-04-02/waymo-isn-t-slowing-down-pact-with-honda-could-include-delivery |access-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref> and [[Volvo]].<ref name=":12" />

Google's development of self-driving technology began on January 17, 2009,<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/johnkrafcik/status/1085944196186304512|title=Our #tenyearchallenge has been building the world's most experienced driver. Thanks to two visionary @Google characters for getting us started & to the @Waymo One riders in #Phoenix we're serving. HBD #Waymo pic.twitter.com/Ew4fdXjM7c|last1=Krafcik|first1=John|date=January 17, 2019|website=John Krafcik's official Twitter account|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123193629/https://twitter.com/johnkrafcik/status/1085944196186304512|archive-date=January 23, 2019|access-date=January 17, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=July 2024}} at [[Google X]] lab, run by co-founder [[Sergey Brin]].<ref name="AP-16">{{cite news |title=Google's self-driving-car project becomes a separate company: Waymo |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-google-waymo-self-driving-20161213-story.html |agency=[[The Associated Press]] |date=December 13, 2016 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> The project was launched at Google by Sebastian Thrun, the former director of the [[Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory]] (SAIL) and [[Anthony Levandowski]], founder of 510 Systems and Anthony's Robots.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite magazine|title=God Is a Bot, and Anthony Levandowski Is His Messenger {{!}} Backchannel|language=en-us|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/god-is-a-bot-and-anthony-levandowski-is-his-messenger/|access-date=July 1, 2020|issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

The initial software code and [[artificial intelligence]] (AI) design of the effort started before the team worked at Google, when Thrun and 15 engineers, including Dmitri Dolgov, Mike Montemerlo, Hendrik Dahlkamp, Sven Strohband, and [[David Stavens]], built Stanley and Junior, Stanford's entries in the 2005 and 2007 [[DARPA Grand Challenge|DARPA Challenges]]. Later, aspects of this technology were used in a digital mapping project for SAIL called VueTool.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|last=Higgins|first=Jack Nicas and Tim|date=May 23, 2017|title=Google vs. Uber: How One Engineer Sparked a War|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-star-engineer-sparked-a-war-between-google-and-uber-1495556308|access-date=July 1, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref name=":5" /><ref name="NYT2010">{{cite news|author=[[John Markoff]]|date=October 9, 2010|title=Google Cars Drive Themselves, in Traffic|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/science/10google.html|access-date=October 11, 2010}}</ref> In 2007, Google [[Acqui-hiring|acqui-hired]] the entire VueTool team to help advance Google's [[Google Street View|Street View]] technology.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite news|title=Fury Road: Did Uber Steal the Driverless Future From Google?|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-03-16/fury-road-did-uber-steal-the-driverless-future-from-google?sref=BeOevass|access-date=July 1, 2020|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date = March 16, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Google">{{cite web |author=Sebastian Thrun |date=October 9, 2010 |title=What we're driving at |url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-were-driving-at.html |access-date=October 11, 2010 |publisher=The Official Google Blog}}</ref><ref name="Hull17">{{cite news |title=The PayPal Mafia of Self-Driving Cars Has Been at It a Decade |last1=Hull |first1=Dana |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-10-30/it-s-been-10-years-since-robots-proved-they-could-drive |newspaperpublisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]] |date=October 30, 2017 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref>

As part of Street View development, 100 [[Toyota Prius|Toyota Priuses]]es<ref name=":3" /> were outfitted with [[Topcon]] digital mapping hardware developed by 510 Systems.<ref name=":9">{{Cite magazine|last=Duhigg|first=Charles|title=Did Uber Steal Google's Intellectual Property?|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/10/22/did-uber-steal-googles-intellectual-property|access-date=July 1, 2020|magazine=The New Yorker|date=October 15, 2018|language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" />

In February 2008, a [[Discovery Channel]] producer for the documentary series ''[[Prototype This!]]'' phoned Levandowski.<ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Bilger|first=Burkhard|title=Has the Self-Driving Car Arrived at Last?|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/11/25/auto-correct|access-date=July 1, 2020|magazine=The New Yorker|date=November 18, 2013|language=en-us}}</ref> The producer requested to borrow Levandowski's Ghost Rider, the autonomous two-wheeled motocycle Levandowski's [[University of California, Berkeley|Berkeley]] team had built for the [[2004 DARPA Grand Challenge]]<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|date=August 19, 2016|title=How a robot lover pioneered the driverless car, and why he's selling his latest to Uber|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/aug/19/self-driving-car-anthony-levandowski-uber-otto-google|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=theThe Guardian|language=en}}</ref> that Levandowski had later donated to the [[Smithsonian American Art Museum|Smithsonian]].<ref>{{Cite web|title="Ghostrider" Robot Motorcycle|url=https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1332301|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=National Museum of American History|language=en}}</ref> Since the motorcycle was not available, Levandowski offered to retrofit a Toyota Prius as a self-driving [[pizza delivery]] car for the show.<ref name=":5" />

As a Google employee, Levandowski asked [[Larry Page]] and Thrun whether Google was interested in participating in the show. Both declined, citing liability issues.<ref name=":10" /> However, they authorized Levandowski to move forward with the project, as long as it was not associated with Google.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=McCullagh|first=Declan|title=Robotic Prius takes itself for a spin around SF|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/robotic-prius-takes-itself-for-a-spin-around-sf/|access-date=July 1, 2020|websitepublisher=CNET|language=en}}</ref> Within weeks Levandowski founded Anthony's Robots to do so.<ref name=":4" /> He retrofitted the car with [[light detection and ranging]] technology (lidar), sensors, and cameras. The Stanford team ([[Stanley (vehicle)]]) provided its code base to the project.<ref name=":10" /> The ensuing episode depicting Pribot delivering pizza across the [[San Francisco Bay Bridge]] under police escort aired in December 2008.<ref name=":8">{{Cite magazine|title=How Anthony Levandowski Put Himself at the Center of an Industry|language=en-us|magazine=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/anthony-levandowski-put-himself-center-industry/|access-date=July 1, 2020|issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=The Unknown Start-up That Built Google's First Self-Driving Car|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/robotics/artificial-intelligence/the-unknown-startup-that-built-googles-first-selfdriving-car|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News|date=November 19, 2014|language=en|quote=Though Google has portrayed Thrun as its “godfather”"godfather" of self-driving, a review of the available evidence suggests that the motivating force behind the company’scompany's program was actually Levandowski}}</ref><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Automated Pizza Delivery|url=https://www.discovery.com/shows/prototype-this/episodes/automated-pizza-delivery|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=Discovery|language=en}}</ref>

The project success led Google to [[greenlight]] Google's self-driving car program in January 2009.<ref name=":10" /> In 2011, Google acquired 510 Systems (co-founded by Levandowski, Pierre-Yves Droz and Andrew Schultz), and Anthony's Robots for an estimated US$20 &nbsp;million.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":8" /><ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ohnsman |first=Alan |title=Anthony Levandowski, The Fallen Self-Driving Tech Star Who Triggered Waymo-Uber Legal Battle, Ordered To Pay Google $179 Million |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2020/03/05/anthony-levandowski-the-fallen-self-driving-tech-star-who-triggered-waymo-uber-legal-battle-ordered-to-pay-google-179-million/ |access-date=July 1, 2020 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> Levandowski's vehicle and hardware, and Stanford's AI technology and software, became the nucleus of the project.<ref name=":10" />

=== Project Chauffeur ===

After almost two years of road testing with seven vehicles, the ''New York Times'' revealed the existence of Google's project on October 9, 2010.<ref name="NYT2010" /> Google announced its initiative later the same day.<ref name="Google" /><ref name="tc-levandowski">{{Cite web |date=March 20, 2020 |title=Anthony Levandowski pleads guilty to one count of trade secrets theft under plea deal |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/19/anthony-levandowski-pleads-guilty-to-one-count-of-trade-secrets-theft-under-plea-deal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320163936/https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/19/anthony-levandowski-pleads-guilty-to-one-count-of-trade-secrets-theft-under-plea-deal/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 20, 2020 |access-date=June 30, 2020 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

Starting in 2010, lawmakers in various states expressed concerns over how to regulate autonomous vehicles. A related [[Nevada]] law went into effect on March 1, 2012.<ref name="1stLicense">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-nevada-google-idUSLNE84701320120508| title=Google gets first self-driven car license in Nevada|author=Mary Slosson |work=[[Reuters]]| date=May 8, 2012| access-date=May 9, 2012}}</ref> Google had been lobbying for such laws.<ref name="GCC0611">{{cite web |date=June 25, 2011 |title=Nevada enacts law authorizing autonomous (driverless) vehicles |url=http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/06/ab511-20110625.html |access-date=June 25, 2011 |publisher=Green Car Congress}}</ref><ref name="Forbes0611">{{cite news|url=https://blogs.forbes.com/alexknapp/2011/06/22/nevada-passes-law-authorizing-driverless-cars/|title=Nevada Passes Law Authorizing Driverless Cars|author=Alex Knapp|work=[[Forbes]]|date=June 22, 2011|access-date=June 25, 2011}}</ref><ref name="NYT0511">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/11/science/11drive.html?_r=1&emc=eta1|title=Google Lobbies Nevada To Allow Self-Driving Cars|author=John Markoff|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 10, 2011|access-date=May 11, 2011}}</ref> A modified Prius was licensed by the [[Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles]] (DMV) in May 2012.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Mark|title=How Google's Autonomous Car Passed the First U.S. State Self-Driving Test|url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/transportation/advanced-cars/how-googles-autonomous-car-passed-the-first-us-state-selfdriving-test|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News|date=September 10, 2014|language=en}}</ref> The car was "driven" by [[Chris Urmson]] with Levandowski in the passenger seat.<ref name=":11" /> This was the first US license for a self-driven car.<ref name="1stLicense" />

In January 2014<ref>{{cite news |author=Billy Davies |date=January 24, 2014 |title=The future of urban transport: The self-driving car club |work=zodiacmedia.co.uk |url=http://www.zodiacmedia.co.uk/blog/the-future-of-urban-transport-the-self-driving-car-club |access-date=January 24, 2014}}</ref> Google was granted a patent for a transportation service funded by advertising that included autonomous vehicles as a transport method.<ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=8630897 B1|title=Transportation-aware physical advertising conversions|status=patent|pubdate=2014-01-14|fdate=2014-01-11|invent1=Luis Ricardo Prada Gomez|invent2=Andrew Timothy Szybalski Sebastian Thrun|invent3=Philip Nemec|invent4=Christopher Paul Urmson|assign1=Google Inc}}</ref> In late May, Google revealed an autonomous [[prototype]], which had no steering wheel, gas pedal, or brake pedal.<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqSDWoAhvLU&list=PLcNF6Ihx2JoUoNKe4PxLqEcZMM0QW2yG- |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/CqSDWoAhvLU |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=A First Drive|date=May 27, 2014|workvia=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://recode.net/2014/05/27/googles-new-self-driving-car-ditches-the-steering-wheel/|title=Google Introduces New Self Driving Car at the Code Conference -– Re/code|author=Liz Gannes|work=Re/code|date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> In December, Google unveiled a Firefly prototype that was planned to be tested on [[San Francisco Bay Area]] roads beginning in early 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27190285/googles-goofy-new-self-driving-car-sign-things |title=Google's 'goofy' new self-driving car a sign of things to come |work=San Jose Mercury News |date=December 22, 2014 |access-date=December 22, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Lynch17">{{cite news |title=Waymo retires Firefly test cars, focuses on Pacificas |last1=Lynch |first1=Jim |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/mobility/2017/06/13/waymo-retires-firefly-test-cars-focuses-pacificas/102818318/ |newspaper=[[The Detroit News]] |date=June 13, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> [[File:Google driverless car at intersection.gk.jpg|thumb|A self-driving car with the previous Google branding]]In 2015, Levandowski left the project. In August 2015, Google hired former [[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai Motor]] executive, [[John Krafcik]], as CEO.<ref name="nyt-spinoff">{{Cite news|last=Wakabayashi|first=Daisuke|date=December 13, 2016|title=Google Parent Company Spins Off Self-Driving Car Business|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/technology/google-parent-company-spins-off-waymo-self-driving-car-business.html|access-date=June 30, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In fall 2015, Google provided "the world's first fully driverless ride on public roads" in [[Austin, Texas]] to Steve Mahan, former CEO of the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center, who was a [[legally blind]] friend of principal engineer Nathaniel Fairfield.<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/waymo/scenes-from-the-street-5bb77046d7ce|title=On the road with self-driving car user number one|first=Waymo|last=Team|date=December 13, 2016|website=Medium}}</ref> It was the first entirely autonomous trip on a public road. It was not accompanied by a test driver or police escort.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=III|first1=Ashley Halsey|last2=Laris|first2=Michael|date=December 13, 2016|title=Blind man sets out alone in Google's driverless car|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/blind-man-sets-out-alone-in-googles-driverless-car/2016/12/13/f523ef42-c13d-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html|access-date=July 2, 2020|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The car had no steering wheel or floor pedals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/life/2016/12/blind-man-rides-self-driving-google-car-by-himself |title=Google Confirms First Ever Driverless Self-Driving Car Ride |first=Debbie |last=Encalada |publisher=Complex Media |date=December 14, 2016}}</ref> By the end of 2015, Project Chauffeur had covered more than a million miles.<ref name=":9" />

Google spent $1.1 &nbsp;billion on the project between 2009 and 2015. For comparison, the acquisition of [[Cruise Automation]] by [[General Motors]] in March 2016 was for $500 &nbsp;million, and Uber's acquisition of [[Otto (company)|Otto]] in August 2016 was for $680 &nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mark Harris |date=September 15, 2017 |title=Google Has Spent Over $1.1 Billion on Self-Driving Tech |work=IEEE spectrum |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self-driving/google-has-spent-over-11-billion-on-selfdriving-tech}}</ref>

In May 2016, Google and Stellantis announced an order of 100 [[Chrysler Pacifica (minivan)|Chrysler Pacifica]] [[Hybrid vehicle|hybrid]] minivans to test the self-driving technology.<ref name="Ebhardt16">{{cite news |author=Tommaso Ebhardt |date=May 3, 2016 |title=Fiat, Google Plan Partnership on Self-Driving Minivans |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-03/fiat-google-said-to-plan-partnership-on-self-driving-minivans}}</ref> In December 2016, the project was renamed Waymo and spun out of Google as part of Alphabet.<ref name="journey">{{Cite web |title=Journey |url=https://waymo.com/journey/ |website=Waymo}}</ref> The name was derived from "a new way forward in mobility".<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Etherington |first1=Darrell |last2=Kolodny |first2=Lora |title=Google's self-driving car unit becomes Waymo |date=December 13, 2016 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/13/googles-self-driving-car-unit-spins-out-as-waymo/}}</ref> In May 2016, the company opened a {{Convert|53000|sqft|abbr=out|adj=on}} technology center in [[Novi, Michigan]].<ref name="michigan-winter">{{Cite web |last=Krafcik |first=John |date=October 27, 2017 |title=Michigan is Waymo's winter wonderland |url=https://medium.com/waymo/michigan-is-waymos-winter-wonderland-9b3cffbb9bab |access-date=September 15, 2018 |website=Medium.com}}</ref>

In 2017, Waymo sued [[Uber]] for allegedly stealing trade secrets.<ref name="Hull17" /> Waymo began testing minivans without a safety driver on public roads in [[Chandler, Arizona]], in October 2017.<ref name="Randazzo18">{{cite news |title=Waymo to start driverless ride sharing in Phoenix area this year |last1=Randazzo |first1=Ryan |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/tech/2018/01/30/waymo-start-driverless-ride-sharing-phoenix-area-year/1078466001/ |newspaper=[[Arizona Republic]] |date=January 30, 2018 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> In 2017, Waymo unveiled new sensors and chips that are less expensive to manufacture, cameras that improve visibility, and wipers to clear the [[lidar]] system.<ref name="Bergen17">{{Cite web |last=Bergen |first=Mark |date=May 16, 2017 |title=Waymo Tests Hardware to Ease Passenger Fears of Driverless Cars |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-16/waymo-s-next-challenge-making-driverless-passengers-feels-safe |access-date=June 13, 2018 |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]}}</ref> At the beginning of the self-driving car program, they used a $75,000 lidar system from [[Velodyne LiDAR|Velodyne]].<ref name="Adams17">{{cite web |author=Dallon Adams |date=April 26, 2017 |title=Everything you need to know about Waymo's self-driving car project |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/everything-you-need-to-know-waymo/ |access-date=June 13, 2018 |publisher=[[Digital Trends]]}}</ref> In 2017, the cost decreased approximately 90 percent, as Waymo converted to in-house built lidar.<ref name="Amadeo17">{{cite web |author=Ron Amadeo |date=January 9, 2017 |title=Google's Waymo invests in LIDAR technology, cuts costs by 90 percent |url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2017/01/googles-waymo-invests-in-lidar-technology-cuts-costs-by-90-percent/ |access-date=June 13, 2018 |publisher=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref> Waymo has applied its technology to various cars including the Prius, [[Audi TT]], [[Fiat]] [[Chrysler Pacifica (RU)|Chrysler Pacifica]], and [[Lexus RX450h]].<ref name="Wired2012">{{cite magazine |author=Damon Lavrinc |date=April 16, 2012 |title=Exclusive: Google Expands Its Autonomous Fleet With Hybrid Lexus RX450h |url=https://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/04/google-autonomous-lexus-rx450h/ |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=April 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gibbs |first=Samuel |date=November 7, 2017 |title=Google sibling Waymo launches fully autonomous ride-hailing service |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/nov/07/google-waymo-announces-fully-autonomous-ride-hailing-service-uber-alphabet |access-date=December 3, 2017 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Waymo partners with Lyft on pilot projects and product development.<ref name="Isaac17">{{cite news |last1=Isaac |first1=Mike |date=May 14, 2017 |title=Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/14/technology/lyft-waymo-self-driving-cars.html |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Waymo ordered an additional 500 Pacifica hybrids in 2017.

In March 2018, Jaguar Land Rover announced that Waymo had ordered up to 20,000 of its [[Jaguar I-Pace|I-Pace]] electric SUVs at an estimated cost of more than $1 &nbsp;billion.<ref name="Higgins18">{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Tim |last2=Dawson |first2=Chester |date=March 27, 2018 |title=Waymo Orders Up to 20,000 Jaguar SUVs for Driverless Fleet |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/waymo-orders-up-to-20-000-jaguar-suvs-for-driverless-fleet-1522159944 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Topham |first=Gwyn |date=March 27, 2018 |title=Jaguar to supply 20,000 cars to Google's self-driving spin-off Waymo |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/27/waymo-self-driving-taxis-jaguar-land-rover |access-date=March 28, 2018 |website=theThe Guardian |language=en}}</ref> In late May 2018, Alphabet announced plans to add up to 62,000 Pacifica Hybrid minivans to the fleet.<ref name="Hawkins18">{{cite web |author=Andrew J. Hawkins |date=January 30, 2018 |title=Waymo strikes a deal to buy 'thousands' more self-driving minivans from Fiat Chrysler |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/30/16948356/waymo-google-fiat-chrysler-pacfica-minivan-self-driving |access-date=June 13, 2018 |publisher=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=della Cava |first1=Marco |title=Waymo will add up to 62,000 FCA minivans to self-driving fleet |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2018/05/31/waymo-add-up-62-000-fca-minivans-self-driving-fleet/659160002/ |access-date=June 1, 2018 |website=USA TODAYToday |language=en}}</ref> Also in May 2018, Waymo established Huimo Business Consulting subsidiary in [[Shanghai]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bergen |first1=Mark |last2=Spears |first2=Lee |date=August 24, 2018 |title=Waymo's Shanghai Subsidiary Gives Alphabet Another Route Back to China |workpublisher=Bloomberg L.P. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-23/waymo-forms-china-subsidiary-as-parent-alphabet-eyes-return |access-date=August 24, 2018}}</ref>

In April 2019, Waymo announced plans for vehicle assembly in Detroit at the former American Axle & Manufacturing plant, bringing between 100 and 400 jobs to the area. Waymo used vehicle assembler [[Magna Steyr|Magna]] to turn [[Jaguar I-PACE]] electric SUVs and [[Chrysler Pacifica (minivan)|Chrysler Pacifica]] Hybrid minivans into Waymo [[Vehicular automation#Autonomy levels|Level 4]] autonomous vehicles.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-waymo-selfdriving-idUSKCN1RZ1IZ|title=Waymo picks Detroit factory for self-driving fleet, to be operational by mid-2019|last=Sage|first=Alexandria|date=April 23, 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=April 23, 2019|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=httphttps://social.techcrunch.com/2019/04/23/waymo-picks-detroit-factory-to-build-self-driving-cars/|title=Waymo picks Detroit factory to build self-driving cars|last=Korosec|first=Kirsten|website=TechCrunch|date=April 23, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=April 23, 2019}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Waymo subsequently reverted to retrofitting existing models rather than a custom design.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/08/19/google-spin-out-waymo-rules-building-self-driving-cars/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/08/19/google-spin-out-waymo-rules-building-self-driving-cars/ |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Google spin-out Waymo rules out building its own self-driving cars|last=Rudgard|first=Olivia|date=August 19, 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=August 20, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In March 2020, Waymo Via was launched after the company's announcement that it had raised $2.25 &nbsp;billion from investors.<ref name="cnbc-waymovia-2020-03">{{Cite web |last=LeBeau |first=Phil |date=March 2, 2020 |title=Waymo launches delivery service after raising $2.25 billion |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/02/waymo-launches-delivery-service-after-raising-2point25-billion.html |access-date=March 3, 2020 |websitepublisher=[[CNBC]] |language=en}}</ref> In May 2020, Waymo raised an additional $750 &nbsp;million.<ref name="funding-fool">{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Daniel |date=May 13, 2020 |title=Waymo Drives an Additional $750 million in Funding |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/05/13/waymo-drives-an-additional-750-million-in-funding.aspx |access-date=July 1, 2020 |website=The Motley Fool |language=en}}</ref> In July 2020, the company announced an exclusive partnership with auto manufacturer [[Volvo Cars|Volvo]] to integrate Waymo technology.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|last=Silver|first=David|title=Waymo And Volvo Form Exclusive Self-Driving Partnership|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidsilver/2020/06/29/waymo-and-volvo-form-exclusive-self-driving-partnership/|access-date=July 1, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=June 25, 2020|title=Volvo Cars, Waymo partner to build self-driving vehicles|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-waymo-volvo-autonomous-idUSKBN23W2V0|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>

In April 2021, Krafcik was replaced by two co-CEOs: Waymo's [[Chief operating officer|COO]] Tekedra Mawakana and [[Chief technology officer|CTO]] Dmitri Dolgov.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nieva|first=Richard|date=April 2, 2021|title=Waymo CEO John Krafcik to step down from self-driving car company|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/waymo-ceo-john-krafcik-to-step-down-from-self-driving-car-company/|access-date=April 4, 2021|websitepublisher=CNET|language=en}}</ref> Waymo raised $2.5 &nbsp;billion in another funding round in June 2021,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sebastian |first1=Dave |title=Waymo Raises $2.5 Billion in Funding Round |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/waymo-raises-2-5-billion-in-funding-round-11623854400 |access-date=July 13, 2021 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=June 16, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Alamalhodaei |first1=Aria |title=Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving arm, raises $2.5B in second external investment round |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/16/waymo-alphabets-self-driving-arm-raises-2-5b-in-second-external-investment-round/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |access-date=July 13, 2021 |date=June 16, 2021 }}</ref> with total funding of $5.5 &nbsp;billion.<ref name="cnbc-may22">{{Cite web |last=Fannin |first=Rebecca |date=May 21, 2022-05-21 |title=Where the billions spent on autonomous vehicles by U.S. and Chinese giants is heading |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/21/why-the-first-autonomous-vehicles-winners-wont-be-in-your-driveway.html |access-date=2022-05-22 |websitepublisher=[[CNBC]]}}</ref> Waymo launched a consumer testing program in San Francisco in August 2021.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":15" /> [[Geely]] Holding said it would partner with Waymo to make electric vehicles from its premium electric mobility brand, Zeekr, to be deployed as fully autonomous ride-hailing vehicles across the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waymo and China's Zeekr partner to develop driverless taxis |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2021/12/29/waymo-and-china039s-zeekr-partner-to-develop-driverless-taxis |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2022, Waymo started started a pilot program seeking riders in downtown [[Phoenix, Arizona]].<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last1=Randazzo |first1=Ryan |title=Waymo to start offering autonomous rides to public in central, downtown Phoenix |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/tech/2022/05/10/waymo-offer-autonomous-vehicle-rides-phoenix/9711015002/ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |date=May 10, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{Cite journal |last1=Blye |first1=Andy |title=Waymo opens autonomous service to select Phoenix passengers |journal=Phoenix Business Journal |date=May 10, 2022 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2022/05/10/waymo-trusted-tester-phoenix.html |access-date=May 11, 2022|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In May 2022, Waymo announced that it would expand the program to more areas of Phoenix.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valencia |first=Peter |title=Waymo to launch self-driving cars program at Phoenix Sky Harbor in next few weeks |url=https://www.azfamily.com/2022/05/18/waymo-launch-self-driving-cars-program-phoenix-sky-harbor-next-few-weeks/ |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=[[Arizona's Family]] |date=May 18, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> In 2023, coverage of the Waymo One area was increased by {{Convert|45|sqmi|abbr=out}}, expanding to include downtown Mesa, uptown Phoenix, and South Mountain Village.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vanek |first=Corina |date=July 11, 2023 |title=Waymo expands coverage area in Phoenix. Here's what to know to hail a robotaxi |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/tech/2023/07/11/waymo-one-expands-phoenix/70399131007/ |work=[[The Arizona Republic]] |publisher=[[Gannett]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rice |first=Wills |date=July 9, 2023 |title=Waymo adding 45 square miles of metro Phoenix car service |url=https://ktar.com/story/5514377/waymo-adding-45-square-miles-of-metro-phoenix-car-service/ |publisher=[[KTAR-FM]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mixer |first=Kelly |date=July 15, 2023 |title=Waymo One expands another 45 square miles in metro Phoenix |url=https://www.citysuntimes.com/business/waymo-one-expands-another-45-square-miles-in-metro-phoenix/article_00d1b6f4-2289-11ee-9c37-3ff82179aa99.html |work=City Sun Times}}</ref>

In June 2022, Waymo announced a partnership with Uber, under which Waymo will integrate its autonomous technology into Uber's freight truck service.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hawkins |first1=Andrew J. |title=Waymo is teaming up with Uber on autonomous trucking because time really heals all wounds |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/7/23156674/waymo-via-uber-freight-autonomous-truck-deal |website=The Verge |date=7 June 7, 2022 |access-date=7 June 7, 2022}}</ref> Plans to expand the program to Los Angeles were announced in late 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Elias |first=Jennifer |title=Waymo says it plans to launch its self-driving service in Los Angeles |date=October 19, 2022 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/10/19/waymo-says-it-plans-to-launch-a-ride-hailing-service-in-los-angeles.html |access-date=2022-12-15 |websitepublisher=CNBC |language=en}}</ref> On December 13, 2022, Waymo applied for the final permit necessary to operate fully autonomous taxis, without a backup driver present, within the state of California.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dave |first=Paresh |date=2022-12-December 13, 2022 |title=Waymo seeks permit to sell self-driving car rides in San Francisco |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/waymo-seeks-permit-sell-self-driving-car-rides-san-francisco-2022-12-13/ |access-date=2022-12-15}}</ref>

In January 2023, [[The Information (website)|''The Information'']] reported that Waymo staff were among those affected by Google's layoffs of around 12,000 workers. ''[[TechCrunch]]'' reported that Waymo was set to kill its trucking program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellan |first=Rebecca |date=2023-01-January 24, 2023 |title=Waymo lays off staff as Alphabet announces 12,000 job cuts |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/01/24/waymo-lays-off-staff-as-alphabet-announces-12000-job-cuts/ |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>

Google has invested heavily in [[matrix multiplication]] and [[video processing]] hardware such as the [[Tensor Processing Unit]] (TPU) to augment [[Nvidia]]'s [[Graphicsgraphics processing unit|graphics processing units]]s (GPUs) and [[Intel]] [[Central processing unit|central processing unitsunit]]s (CPUs).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Intel is collaborating with Waymo on self-driving car technology |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/intel-waymo-self-driving-car-technology-2017-9 |access-date=December 12, 2017 |work=Business Insider |language=en}}</ref> Much of this is shrouded in trade secrets, but [[transformer (machine learning)]] technology for inference is probably involved.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/11/waymo-shows-off-its-futuristic-transportation-as-a-service-vehicle/| access-date=2023-11-06 |title=Waymo shows off its next truly driverless prototype car| date=November 17, 2022 }}</ref>

Waymo's [[deep-learning]] architecture VectorNet predicts vehicle trajectories in complex traffic scenarios. It uses a [[graph neural network]] to model the interactions between vehicles and has demonstrated state-of-the-art performance on several benchmark datasets for trajectory prediction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.futurecar.com/3929/Waymo-Develops-a-Machine-Learning-Model-to-Predict-the-Behavior-of-Other-Road-Users-for-its-Self-Driving-Vehicles |first=Eric |last=Walz |title=Waymo Develops a Machine Learning Model to Predict the Behavior of Other Road Users for its Self-Driving Vehicles |date=2020-06-June 20, 2020 |access-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331124840/https://www.futurecar.com/3929/Waymo-Develops-a-Machine-Learning-Model-to-Predict-the-Behavior-of-Other-Road-Users-for-its-Self-Driving-Vehicles |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Waymo Carcraft is a virtual world where Waymo can simulate driving conditions.<ref name="Madrigal17">{{cite news |title=Inside Waymo's Secret World for Training Self-Driving Cars |last1=Madrigal |first1=Alexis C. |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/08/inside-waymos-secret-testing-and-simulation-facilities/537648/ |newspaper=[[The Atlantic]] |date=August 23, 2017 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Seppala17">{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/23/waymo-virtual-world-carcraft/ |title='Carcraft' is Waymo's virtual world for autonomous vehicle testing |author=Timothy J. Seppala |date=August 23, 2017 |publisherwork=[[Engadget]] |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> The simulator was named after the [[video game]] ''[[World of Warcraft]]''.<ref name="Madrigal17" /><ref name="Seppala17" /> With Carcraft, 25,000 virtual self-driving cars navigate through models of Austin, Texas; [[Mountain View, California]]; Phoenix, Arizona; and other cities.<ref name="Madrigal17" />

[[File:Jurvetson Google driverless car trimmed.jpg|thumb|A [[Toyota Prius]] modified to operate as a Google driverless car, navigating a test course<ref>{{cite web |date=April 30, 2011 |title=The Test Driven Google Car |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDCwODblPMI&ab_channel=idels1 |access-date=April 30, 2011 |websitevia=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref>]]

By December 2013, Nevada, Florida, California, and Michigan had passed laws permitting [[autonomous car]]s.<ref>Muller, Joann. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2012/09/26/with-driverless-cars-once-again-it-is-california-leading-the-way/ "With Driverless Cars, Once Again It Is California Leading The Way"], ''Forbes.com'', September 26, 2012</ref> A law proposed in Texas allowed testing.<ref>[http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=HB2932 "Legislative Session: 83(R) Bill: HB 2932"], Texas Legislature Online, May 30, 2013</ref><ref>Whittington, Mark. [https://news.yahoo.com/law-proposed-texas-require-licensed-driver-self-driving-193000149.html "Law Proposed in Texas to Require Licensed Driver in Self-Driving Vehicles"], Yahoo! News, Fri, March 8, 2013</ref>

In June 2015, Waymo announced that their vehicles had driven over {{convert|1,000,0001000000|mi|abbr=on}} and that in the process they had encountered 200,000 stop signs, 600,000 traffic lights, and 180 million other vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?passive=1209600&osid=1&continue=https://plus.google.com/%2BSelfDrivingCar/posts/iMHEMH9crJb&followup=https://plus.google.com/%2BSelfDrivingCar/posts/iMHEMH9crJb|title=Sign in -– Google Accounts|website=accounts.google.com}}</ref> Prototype vehicles were driving in Mountain View.<ref>Murphy, Mike. [http://qz.com/437788/googles-self-driving-cars-are-now-on-the-streets-of-california/ "Google's self-driving cars are now on the streets of California"], ''Quartz'', June 25, 2015</ref> Speeds were limited to {{convert|25|mph|abbr=on}} and had safety drivers aboard.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/google-self-driving-car-gets-pulled-over-going-too-slowly-n462671 |title=Google Self-Driving Car Gets Pulled Over — For Going Too Slowly |last1=Smith |first1=Alexander |last2=Hansen |first2=Shelby |date=November 13, 2015 |websitepublisher=[[NBCNews.com]] |publisher=NBC News]] |access-date=November 13, 2015 |quote=A Google self-driving car was pulled over by police because the vehicle was traveling too slowly, officials said. The officer in Mountain View, California, noticed traffic backing up behind the prototype vehicle, which was traveling 24 mph in a 35 mph zone, the force said.}}</ref> Google took its first driverless ride on public roads in October 2015, when Mahan took a 10-minute ride around Austin in a Google "pod car" with no steering wheel or pedals.<ref name="Davies17">{{cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Lex |date=November 7, 2017 |title=Wymo has taken the human out of its self-driving cars |newspaper=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |url=https://www.wired.com/story/waymo-google-arizona-phoenix-driverless-self-driving-cars/ |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Google expanded its road-testing to Texas, where regulations did not prohibit cars without pedals or a steering wheel.<ref name="yahoo.com">{{Cite web|title = California's Red Tape Slows Google's Self-Driving Roll| date=November 16, 2015 |url = https://www.yahoo.com/autos/californias-red-tape-slows-googles-self-driving-150534398.html|websitepublisher = www.yahoo.comYahoo!|access-date = November 16, 2015}}</ref>

In 2016, road testing expanded to Phoenix and [[Kirkland, Washington]], which has a wet climate.<ref name="Shepardson16">{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/12/waymos-self-driving-chrysler-pacifica-begins-testing-in-san-francisco/ |title=Google expanding self-driving vehicle testing to Phoenix, Arizona |author=David Shepardson |date=April 7, 2016 |publisher=[[TechCrunch]] |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> {{As of|2016|06}}, Google had test driven its fleet of vehicles in autonomous mode a total of {{convert|1,725,9111725911|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=Google Self-Driving Car Project Monthly Report -– June 2016|url=https://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en//selfdrivingcar/files/reports/report-0616.pdf|access-date=July 15, 2016|archive-date=December 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213211930/http://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en//selfdrivingcar/files/reports/report-0616.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2016 alone, their cars traveled a "total of 170,000 miles; of those, 126,000 miles were autonomous (i.e., the car was fully in control)".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en//selfdrivingcar/files/reports/report-0816.pdf|title=Google Self-Driving Car Project Monthly Report August 2016|access-date=September 19, 2016|archive-date=December 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203061557/https://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en//selfdrivingcar/files/reports/report-0816.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2017, Waymo began testing its [[Autonomous car#Classification|level 4]] cars in Arizona to take advantage of good weather, simple roads, and reasonable laws.<ref name="Hawkins17" />

In March 2018, Waymo announced its plans for experiments with the company's self-driving trucks delivering freight to Google data centers in [[Atlanta]], Georgia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/9/17100518/waymo-self-driving-truck-google-atlanta|title=Waymo's self-driving trucks will start delivering freight in Atlanta|work=The Verge|access-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref> In October 2018, the [[California Department of Motor Vehicles]] issued a permit for Waymo to operate cars without safety drivers. Waymo was the first company to receive a permit that allowed day and night testing on public roads and highways. Waymo announced that its service would include Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, and Palo Alto.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/30/18044670/waymo-fully-driverless-car-permit-california-dmv|title=Waymo gets the green light to test fully driverless cars in California|work=The Verge|access-date=November 1, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/waymo/a-green-light-for-waymos-driverless-testing-in-california-a87ec336d657|title=A Green Light for Waymo's Driverless Testing in California|last=Team|first=Waymo|date=October 30, 2018|website=Medium|access-date=November 1, 2018}}</ref> In July 2019, Waymo received permission to transport passengers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=httphttps://social.techcrunch.com/2019/07/02/waymo-is-now-allowed-to-transport-passengers-in-its-self-driving-vehicles-on-california-roads/|title=Waymo is now allowed to transport passengers in its self-driving vehicles on California roads|website=TechCrunch|date=July 2, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref>

In December 2018, Waymo launched Waymo One, transporting passengers. The service used safety drivers to monitor some rides, with others provided in select areas without them. In November 2019, Waymo One became the first autonomous service worldwide to operate without safety drivers.<ref name="ars-201911">{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Timothy |date=November 2, 2019 |title=Waymo let a reporter ride in a fully driverless car -– Waymo has been touting fully driverless operation for almost two years. |url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2019/11/waymo-finally-let-a-reporter-ride-in-a-fully-driverless-car/ |access-date=August 5, 2020 |website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref><ref name="verge-201912">{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Andrew |date=December 9, 2019 |title=Waymo's driverless car: ghost-riding in the back seat of a robot taxi |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/9/21000085/waymo-fully-driverless-car-self-driving-ride-hail-service-phoenix-arizona |access-date=August 5, 2020 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref><ref name="vox-2020-02">{{Cite web |last=Piper |first=Kelsey |date=February 28, 2020 |title=It's 2020. Where are our self-driving cars? -– In the age of AI advances, self-driving cars turned out to be harder than people expected. |url=https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2020/2/14/21063487/self-driving-cars-autonomous-vehicles-waymo-cruise-uber |access-date=September 14, 2020 |website=[[Vox (website)|Vox]]}}</ref>

By January 2020, Waymo had completed {{Convert|20000000|mi|sp=us|spell=in}} of driving on public roads.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Waymo |date=October 10, 2018 |title=Where the next 10 million miles will take us |url=https://medium.com/waymo/where-the-next-10-million-miles-will-take-us-de51bebb67d3 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |website=Waymo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Timothy |date=January 7, 2020 |title=Waymo is way, way ahead on testing miles -– that might not be a good thing |url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/01/waymo-is-way-way-ahead-on-testing-miles-that-might-not-be-a-good-thing/ |access-date=July 22, 2020 |website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref>

In August 2021, commercial Waymo One test service started in San Francisco, beginning with a "trusted tester" rollout.<ref name="sf-08021">{{Cite web |last=Amadeo |first=Ron |date=August 25, 2021 |title=Waymo expands to San Francisco with public self-driving test -– Confidential testing starts in SF, featuring Waymo's 5th-gen Jaguar I-Pace cars. |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/08/waymo-expands-to-san-francisco-with-public-self-driving-test/ |access-date=August 26, 2021 |website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref>

In March 2022, Waymo began offering rides for Waymo staff in San Francisco without a driver.<ref name="sf-03022">{{Cite news |author1=Nico Grant |author2=Edward Ludlow |first= |date=March 30, 2022 |title=Waymo, Chasing Cruise, Plans Fully Driverless Rides in San Francisco |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-30/google-s-waymo-to-offer-public-fully-driverless-rides-in-san-francisco |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |access-date=March 31, 2022 }}</ref>

By July 2015, Google's 23 self-driving cars had been involved in 14 minor collisions on public roads.<ref name="11accidents">{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/googles-autonomous-car-injuries-blame-the-human/|title=Google's autonomous car injuries: Blame the human|author=Charlie Osborne|websitepublisher=[[ZDNet]] }}</ref> Google maintained that, in all but one case, the vehicle was not at fault because the cars were either driven manually or the driver of another vehicle was at fault.<ref name="The View">{{cite web|author=Urmson|first=Chris|title=The View from the Front Seat of the Google Self-Driving Car|url=https://medium.com/backchannel/the-view-from-the-front-seat-of-the-google-self-driving-car-46fc9f3e6088|work=Medium|date=January 20, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=JOHN MARKOFF|date=October 9, 2010|title=Google Cars Drive Themselves, in Traffic|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/science/10google.html?_r=1|access-date=August 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=August 5, 2011|title=Human Driver Crashes Google's Self Driving Car|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/googles-self-driving-cars-get-in-their-first-accident-2011-8|access-date=May 4, 2013|newspaper=businessinsider.comBusiness Insider}}</ref>

By July 2021, the NHTSA had found 150 crashes by Waymo. Under NHTSA rules, crashes were reported if the system was in use in the prior 30 seconds, though most crashes did not have injuries.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Parker |first=Jordan |date=21 August 21, 2023 |title=Here’sHere's how many Waymo and Cruise vehicles have been in crashes in past 2 years |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/waymo-cruise-driverless-cars-18304792.php |work=SFSan Francisco Chronicle}}</ref>

Waymo regularly publishes safety reports.<ref name="Laris17">{{cite news |title=Waymo gives federal officials a detailed safety report on self-driving vehicles |last1=Laris |first1=Michael |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/waymo-is-first-company-to-deliver-federal-officials-a-detailed-self-driving-safety-report/2017/10/12/1f9a207e-af73-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=October 23, 2017 |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref> Waymo is required by the California DMV to report the number of incidents where the safety driver took control for safety reasons. Some incidents were not reported when simulations indicated that the car would have stopped safely on its own.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jan/12/google-self-driving-cars-mistakes-data-reports |title=Google reports self-driving car mistakes: 272 failures and 13 near misses|first=Mark|last=Harris|date=January 12, 2016|viawork=The Guardian}}</ref> In 2023, Waymo claimed only 3 crashes with injuries over 7.1 &nbsp;million miles driven, nearly twice as safe as a human driver.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Timothy B. |date=2023-12-December 20, 2023 |title=7.1 million miles, 3 minor injuries: Waymo’sWaymo's safety data looks good |url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2023/12/human-drivers-crash-a-lot-more-than-waymos-software-data-shows/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}</ref>

A Waymo robotaxi killed a dog in San Francisco while in "autonomous mode" in May 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/07/waymo-car-kills-dog-self-driving-robotaxi-san-francisco|title=Self-driving Waymo car kills dog amid increasing concern over robotaxis|date=June 7, 2023|viawork=The Guardian}}</ref>

In February 2024, a driverless Waymo robotaxi struck a cyclist in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Disha |last2=Rajan |first2=Gnaneshwar |title=Waymo robotaxi accident with San Francisco cyclist draws regulatory review |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/driverless-waymo-car-hits-cyclist-san-francisco-causes-minor-scratches-2024-02-07/ |access-date=8 February 8, 2024 |publisherwork=Reuters |date=7 February 7, 2024}}</ref> Later that same month, Waymo issued recalls for 444 of its vehicles after two hit the same truck being towed on a highway.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-February 15, 2024 |title=Waymo issues recall after 2 of its vehicles strike the same pickup truck |url=https://apnews.com/article/waymo-google-selfdriving-recall-software-eb492a89b32789cacd0b6a18dee9aaf9 |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cano |first=Ricardo |date=14 February 14, 2024 |title=Waymo recalls robotaxi software after collisions in Phoenix |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/tech/article/waymo-recall-collisions-18667463.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shepardson |first=David |date=15 February 15, 2024 |title=Waymo recalls 444 self-driving vehicles over software error |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/waymo-updates-software-over-400-recalled-vehicles-nhtsa-2024-02-15/ |work=Reuters}}</ref>

Waymo operates in some of its testing markets, such as Chandler, Arizona, at [[SAE automation level|L4 autonomy]] with no one sitting behind the steering wheel, sharing roadways with other drivers and pedestrians.<ref name="Hawkins17"/><ref name="Etherington17">{{cite web |author=Darrell Etherington |date=November 7, 2017 |title=Waymo now testing its self-driving cars on public roads with no one at the wheel |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/07/waymo-now-testing-its-self-driving-cars-on-public-roads-with-no-one-at-the-wheel/ |access-date=June 13, 2018 |publisher=[[TechCrunch]]}}</ref> Waymo's earlier testing focused on areas without harsh weather, extreme density, or complicated road systems, but it has moved on to test under new conditions.<ref name="Ohnsman18">{{cite web |author=Alan Ohnsman |date=March 2, 2018 |title=Waymo Is Millions Of Miles Ahead In Robot Car Tests; Does It Need A Billion More? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2018/03/02/waymo-is-millions-of-miles-ahead-in-robot-car-tests-does-it-need-a-billion-more/#719d148b1ef4 |access-date=June 13, 2018 |work=[[Forbes]]}}</ref><ref name="Davies17"/> As a result, beginning in 2017, Waymo began testing in areas with harsher conditions, such as its winter testing in Michigan.<ref name="della Cava17"/>

In 2014, a critic wrote in the ''MIT Technology Review'' that unmapped stoplights would cause problems with Waymo's technology and the self-driving technology could not detect potholes. Additionally, the lidar technology cannot spot some potholes or discern when humans, such as a police officersofficer, signal the car to stop, the critic wrote.<ref name="Gomes14">{{cite web | url=http://www.technologyreview.com/news/530276/hidden-obstacles-for-googles-self-driving-cars/ | title=Hidden Obstacles for Google's Self-driving Car | author=Lee Gomes | date=August 28, 2014 | access-date=October 6, 2014 | archive-date=March 16, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316001705/http://www.technologyreview.com/news/530276/hidden-obstacles-for-googles-self-driving-cars/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Waymo has worked to improve how its technology responds in construction zones.<ref name="Castro18">{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/9/17307156/google-waymo-driverless-cars-deep-learning-neural-net-interview |title=Inside Waymo's strategy to grow the best brains for self-driving cars |author=Alex Castro |date=May 9, 2018 |publisher=[[The Verge]] |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Jaffe14">{{cite news |url=https://www.citylab.com/life/2014/04/first-look-how-googles-self-driving-car-handles-city-streets/8977/ |title=The first look at how Google's self-driving car handles city streets |author=Eric Jaffe |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=April 28, 2014 |publisher=[[CityLab (web magazine)|CityLab]] |access-date=July 3, 2018}}</ref>

In 2021, it was noted that Waymo cars kept routing through the [[Richmond District, San Francisco|Richmond District]] of San Francisco, with up to 50 cars each day driving to a [[dead end street]] before turning around.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pruitt-Young |first=Sharon |date=16 October 16, 2021 |title=Self-driving Waymo cars gather in a San Francisco neighborhood, confusing residents |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/10/16/1046752123/self-driving-cars-waymo-san-francisco |workpublisher=NPR}}</ref> In 2023, [[Abc7 Bay Area|ABC7 News Bay Area]] posted a video of a journalist taking a ride in a Waymo vehicle, which notably stopped at a green light and dropped the journalist at the wrong stop twice, despite support intervention.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-June 29, 2023 |title=Journalist documents wild ride inside Waymo self-driving car in SF |url=https://abc7news.com/self-driving-cars-san-francisco-robo-taxi-waymo-cruise-car/13442069/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en}}</ref>

In 2023, the San Francisco group ''[[Safe Street Rebels]]Rebel'' used a practice called "coning" to trap Waymo and Cruise cars with traffic cones as a form of protest after claiming that the cars had been involved in hundreds of incidents.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kerr |first=Dana |date=26 August 26, 2023 |title=Armed with traffic cones, protesters are immobilizing driverless cars |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/08/26/1195695051/driverless-cars-san-francisco-waymo-cruise |websitepublisher=NPR}}</ref> During the 2024 Lunar New Year in San Francisco Chinatown, protestors attacked, graffitied, and set fire to a Waymo car. No one was injured.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Javaid |first=Maham |date=2024-02-February 12, 2024 |title=San Francisco crowd sets self-driving car on fire |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/02/12/waymo-set-on-fire-san-francisco/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |worknewspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Quintana |first=Sergio |date=2024-02-February 13, 2024 |title=Authorities work to identify people who set Waymo car on fire in San Francisco |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/san-francisco/waymo-car-fire-san-francisco/3452091/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=NBC Bay Area |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, passengers during a Waymo ride described an attack by an onlooker who attempted to cover the car's sensors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pena |first=Luz |date=February 8, 2024-02-08 |title=SF couple describes feeling 'trapped' riding in Waymo driverless car that was being attacked |url=https://abc7news.com/waymo-sf-attacked-self-driving-car-incidents/14397184/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, a San Francisco city attorney had attempted to sue to prevent expansion of driverless vehicles including Waymo into San Francisco.<ref>{{Cite web |last=writer {{!}} |first=Greg Wong {{!}} Examiner staff |date=2024-01-24 |title=SF sues state regulators for robotaxi expansion |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/transit/san-francisco-sues-cpuc-for-authorizing-waymo-expansion/article_7ebe569a-bb03-11ee-9ca3-ff53bee30f57.html |access-date=2024-0210-1330 |website=San Francisco Examiner |language=en}}</ref> [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo County]] government soon after also sent a letter to regulators opposing expansion to its county.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-February 15, 2024 |title=San Mateo County opposes Waymo’sWaymo's driverless-car expansion |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/02/15/san-mateo-county-opposes-waymos-driverless-car-expansion/ |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation into potential flaws in Waymo vehicles, focusing on 31 incidents that included Waymo vehicles ramming into a closing gate, driving on the wrong side of the road, and at least 17 crashes or fires.<ref>{{Cite news |lastlast1=Thadani |firstfirst1=Trisha |last2=Duncan |first2=Ian |date=May 24, 2024-05-24 |title=Major robotaxi firms face federal safety investigations after crashes |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/05/24/all-major-robotaxi-firms-are-facing-federal-safety-investigations/ |access-date=2024-05-26 |worknewspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

Waymo offers robotaxi services in Phoenix, Arizona and in San Francisco,<ref name="sf-08021" /> with plans to expand toand Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{Citecite web |last=KorosecKerr |first=KirstenDana |date=2022-10-19March 14, 2024 |title=Waymo to launch's robotaxi service inset to expand into Los Angeles |website=[[NPR]] |url= https://techcrunchwww.comnpr.org/20222024/1003/1914/1238489046/waymo-robotaxi-los-angeles/ |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref> Waymo's autonomous robotaxi was developed by [[Zeekr]] and [[CEVT]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Bassett | first=Abigail |author-link=Abigail Bassett |date=November 21, 2022 |title=Waymo’sWaymo's new robotaxi is an all-electric people mover with no steering wheel | website=The Verge | date=2022-11-21 | url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/21/23471183/waymo-zeekr-geely-autonomous-vehicle-av-robotaxi | access-date=2024-01-15 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Liao | first=Rita | title=Waymo-Zeekr robotaxi poised for US testing by end of 2023 | website=TechCrunch | date=October 9, 2023-10-09 | url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/10/08/geely-waymo-robotaxi-to-test-in-us/ | access-date=2024-01-15}}</ref>

Waymo Via, launched in 2020 to work with OEMs to get its technology into vehicles.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2020 |title=Waymo Targets Southwest Freight Corridor for Autonomous Truck Tests |url=https://www.ttnews.com/articles/waymo-targets-southwest-freight-corridor-autonomous-truck-tests-0 |access-date=July 2, 2020 |website=Transport Topics |language=en}}</ref><ref name="cnbc-waymovia-2020-03" /><ref name="waymo-via">{{Cite web |title=Waymo Via -– Same Driver. Different Vehicle. |url=https://waymo.com/waymo-via/ |access-date=July 22, 2020}}</ref> The company is testing [[Truck classification|Class 8]] tractor-trailers<ref name="Hawkins03-09-2018" /> in Atlanta,<ref name="Hawkins03-09-2018">{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/9/17100518/waymo-self-driving-truck-google-atlanta |title=Waymo's self-driving trucks will start delivering freight in Atlanta |author=Andrew J. Hawkins |date=March 9, 2018 |publisher=[[The Verge]] |access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> and southwest shipping routes across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.<ref name=":14" /> The company operates a trucking hub in [[Dallas]], Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ohnsman |first=Alan |date=August 25, 2020 |title=Waymo Taps Texas As Its Robot Truck Hub With Dallas Depot |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2020/08/25/waymo-taps-texas-as-its-robot-truck-hub-with-new-dallas-depot/ |access-date=September 14, 2020 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref> It is partnering with Daimler to integrate autonomous technology into a fleet of [[Freightliner Cascadia]] trucks.<ref name="via-daimler">{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Andrew |date=October 27, 2020 |title=Waymo and Daimler are teaming up to build fully driverless semi trucks -– 'A broad, global, strategic partnership' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/27/21536048/waymo-daimler-driverless-semi-trucks-cascadia-freightliner |access-date=October 27, 2020 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

Waymo operates 48 Class 8 autonomous trucks with safety drivers.<ref name="reuters-202304">{{Cite web |last=Shepardson |first=David |date=2023-04-April 12, 2023 |title=US union opposes driverless trucks waiver for Waymo, Aurora |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/union-opposes-driverless-trucks-exemption-waymo-aurora-2023-04-11/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |websitework=Reuters |language=en}}</ref> In 2023 Waymo issued a joint application along with [[Aurora Innovation]] to the [[Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration]] for a five-year exemption from rules that require drivers to place reflective triangles or a flare around a stopped tractor-trailer truck, to avoid needing human drivers, in favor of warning beacons mounted on the truck cab.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 9, 2023-03-09 |title=Federal Register :: Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Exemption Application From Waymo LLC, and Aurora Operations, Inc. |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/03/09/2023-04841/parts-and-accessories-necessary-for-safe-operation-exemption-application-from-waymo-llc-and-aurora |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=[[Federal Register]]}}</ref>

Waymo tested its technology in commercial delivery vehicles with [[United Parcel Service]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McFarland |first=Matt |date=January 29, 2020 |title=UPS teams up with Waymo to test self-driving delivery vans |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/29/tech/ups-waymo-self-driving-package-delivery/index.html |access-date=July 22, 2020 |websitepublisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref name="fc-ups-waymo">{{Cite web |date=July 28, 2020 |title=How the Waymo Driver is revolutionizing shipping -– It's not only more efficient. Delivery networks, energy conservation, warehouse design, and more will all be affected—for the better. |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90532791/how-the-waymo-driver-is-revolutionizing-shipping |access-date=July 29, 2020 |website=[[Fast Company]]}}</ref> In July 2020 Waymo and [[Stellantis]] expanded their partnership, including the development of [[Ram ProMaster]] delivery vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gitlin |first=Jonathan |date=July 22, 2020 |title=Waymo is working on autonomous Ram ProMaster Vans for goods deliveries -– FCA was Waymo's first OEM partner in 2016, deal will continue post-merger with PSA. |url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2020/07/waymo-is-working-on-autonomous-ram-promaster-vans-for-goods-deliveries/ |access-date=July 22, 2020 |website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref>

In February 2017, Waymo sued Uber and its subsidiary self-driving trucking company, [[Otto (company)|Otto]], alleging [[trade secrets|trade secret]] theft and patent infringement. The company claimed that three ex-Google employees, including [[Anthony Levandowski]], had stolen trade secrets, including thousands of files, from Google before joining Uber.<ref name= "Wakabayashi">{{Cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/09/technology/uber-waymo-lawsuit-driverless.html|title=Uber and Waymo Settle Trade Secrets Suit Over Driverless Cars|last=Wakabayashi|first= Daisuke|date=February 9, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date= February 23, 2019|language=en-US|issn= 0362-4331}}</ref> The alleged infringement was related to Waymo's proprietary lidar technology,<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://tsi.brooklaw.edu/cases/waymo-llc-v-uber-technologies-inc-ottomotto-llc-otto-trucking-llc|title=Waymo LLC v. Uber Technologies, Inc; Ottomotto LLC; Otto Trucking LLC|website=Trade Secrets Institute | publisher = Brook law |access-date=March 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/02/23/technology/document-waymo-uber-complaint.html |title=Waymo's Complaint Against Uber|date=February 23, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 18, 2017|issn= 0362-4331}}</ref> Google accused Uber of colluding with Levandowski.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/technology/waymo-uber-lawsuit.html |title=Secrets or Knowledge? Uber-Waymo Trial Tests Silicon Valley Culture|date=January 30, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=June 4, 2018 |language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Levandowski allegedly downloaded 9 gigabytes of data that included over a hundred trade secrets; eight of which were at stake during the trial.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/8/16993208/waymo-v-uber-trial-trade-secrets-lidar |title=I'm not so sure Waymo's going to win against Uber|work=The Verge|access-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref><ref name= "Larson18">{{cite web |url= https://money.cnn.com/2018/02/07/technology/waymo-v-uber-technology/index.html |title=The tech at the center of the Waymo vs. Uber trade secrets case | first =Selena | last = Larson |date=February 7, 2018 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=June 13, 2018}}</ref>

An ensuing settlement gave Waymo 0.34% of Uber stock,<ref name= "Wakabayashi"/> the equivalent of $245 &nbsp;million. Uber agreed not to infringe Waymo's intellectual property.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Farivar|first1=Cyrus|title= Silicon Valley's most-watched trial ends as Waymo and Uber settle|url= https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/waymo-and-uber-end-trial-with-sudden-244-million-settlement/|access-date=February 9, 2018| work =Ars Technica |date=February 9, 2018}}</ref> Part of the agreement included a guarantee that "Waymo confidential information is not being incorporated in Uber Advanced Technologies Group hardware and software."{{Sfn | Larson | 2018}} In statements released after the settlement, Uber maintained that it received no trade secrets.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-uber-waymo-settlement-20180209-story.html|title=Uber reaches settlement with Waymo in dispute over trade secrets|last1=Lien|first1=Russ | last2 = Mitchell | first2 = Tracey|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date= February 10, 2018 |access-date=June 4, 2018}}</ref> In May, according to an Uber spokesman, Uber had fired Levandowski, which resulted in the loss of roughly $250 &nbsp;million of his equity in Uber, which almost exactly equaled the settlement.<ref name="Wakabayashi"/> Uber announced that it was halting production of self-driving trucks through Otto in July 2018, and the subsidiary company was shuttered.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Korosec |first=Kirsten |date=2018-07-July 30, 2018 |title=Uber's self-driving trucks division is dead, long live Uber self-driving cars |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/30/ubers-self-driving-trucks-division-is-dead-long-live-uber-self-driving-cars/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>

In January 2022, Waymo sued the [[California Department of Motor Vehicles]] (DMV) to prevent data on driverless crashes from being released to the public. Waymo maintained that such information constituted a [[trade secret]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Andrew J. |date=2022-01-January 28, 2022 |title=Waymo sues California DMV to keep driverless crash data under wraps |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/1/28/22906513/waymo-lawsuit-california-dmv-crash-data-foia |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> According to ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'', the "topics Waymo wants to keep hidden include how it plans to handle driverless car emergencies, what it would do if a robot taxi started driving itself where it wasn't supposed to go, and what constraints there are on the car's ability to traverse San Francisco's tunnels, tight curves and steep hills."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Russ |date=2022-01-January 28, 2022 |title=Waymo sues state DMV to keep robotaxi safety details secret |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-01-28/waymo-robot-taxi-sues-state-secret-black-ice |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

In February 2022, Waymo was successful in preventing the release of robotaxi safety records. A Waymo spokesperson affirmed that the company would be transparent about its safety record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawkins |first=Andrew J. |date=2022-02-February 23, 2022 |title=Waymo wins bid to keep some of its robotaxi safety details secret |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/23/22947595/waymo-lawsuit-california-dmv-secret-win-injunction |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>