Waymo Takes Its Self-Driving Cars to Virginia

Waymo is transporting its self-driving cars to Virginia to map Arlington and Alexandria. Mapping requires creating ultra-precise digital representations of streets and surrounding features, with drivers operating the mapping vehicles for now. Waymo representatives described the effort as an important preparatory step if Virginia authorizes fully autonomous ride-hailing, while stating there are no current plans for a commercial service there. Waymo policy advisers said vehicles arrived in Alexandria and would soon reach Arlington. Transitioning from mapping to a robotaxi service is expected to take 12 to 18 months and significant funding. Virginia is developing autonomous vehicle regulations, and a licensing bill is under consideration, with expectations that self-driving operations may not begin before 2028.

"For most autonomous vehicle companies, mapping, or the creation of sensor-aided and ultra-precise digital representations of streets and the features around them, is the first step required to launch a local robotaxi service. Drivers will operate the mapping vehicles for now, Waymo says."

"Ethan Teicher, a spokesperson for Waymo, confirmed the move to WIRED and called it "an important preparatory step should the Commonwealth authorize fully autonomous ride-hailing." Still, he said, the company does "not currently have plans for a commercial service there.""

"In a public meeting last week with a Virginia Department of Transportation working group, Waymo policy adviser Rich Harrington said that Waymo vehicles had touched down in Alexandria and would soon come to Arlington, both just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Moving from mapping to a full-blown robotaxi service takes 12 to 18 months and "a lot of money," he told state government officials."

"Virginia's Autonomous Driving Work Group is working to understand how policymakers might craft regulations for autonomous vehicles in the state. The state Senate is currently considering a bill to create a path for autonomous vehicles to be licensed to carry paying passengers or cargo. Still, the law's sponsor-state senator Saddam Salim-doesn't expect it to allow self-driving cars to operate there before 2028, he told local publication Arlington Now."

Read at WIRED