Waymo car service in Oakland and Berkeley approved by DMV

"Autonomous cars are one step closer to driving passengers in Oakland and other East Bay cities. But can they navigate Oakland's hundreds of potholed roads and the prevalence of red-light running and speeding that makes driving dangerous in the city? Those are some of the questions locals are asking a few days after the state's Department of Motor Vehicles approved Waymo, a San Francisco company, to "conduct driverless testing and deployment operations" in the East Bay, including Berkeley, Fremont, Hayward, Alameda, and Oakland."

"In the East Bay, Waymo will be allowed to deploy Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr RT SUV electric vehicle models, outfitted with cameras and radar and LiDAR sensors that help the car's software systems gain awareness of tens of thousands of details on and off the road. Most Waymo pricing rates per ride are above those of Uber or Lyft, with one analyst telling the TechCrunch technology blog last year that during peak hours, a ride costs about $11 more than a Lyft"

Waymo obtained approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to conduct driverless testing and deployment operations in Oakland and other East Bay cities, including Berkeley, Fremont, Hayward, and Alameda. Local concerns include Oakland's hundreds of potholed roads and the prevalence of red-light running and speeding that contribute to dangerous driving conditions. Waymo will deploy Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr RT electric models equipped with cameras, radar, and LiDAR sensors that enable the vehicles to detect tens of thousands of on- and off-road details. Most Waymo ride rates are higher than Uber or Lyft, and the company still requires a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission.

Read at The Oaklandside