Would you jump into a car stopped on the side of the road to pick you up without a driver in the driver’s seat? In fact, there is no one in the car at all.
And if you want, would you rather sit in the passenger seat or in the back like a regular taxi?
I’ve just returned to Santa Monica, Los Angeles, checking out some lovely new restaurants and bars worth visiting, and was quite surprised to see some strange looking cars driving around with a spinning show on the roof.
As of June 2025, there are more than 100 Waymo driverless taxis roaming the 120 square miles of Los Angeles. It’s also available in Austin, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Atlanta, with Miami and Washington DC coming soon.
The company is owned by Google in collaboration with Jaguar and Toyota. This vehicle is the Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicle.
The way to use it is to download the Waymo app, like Uber, and then use the app to call your car. Up to four people enter where they want to go, and the app opens the door when they arrive.
Once you get in the car, fasten your seatbelt, tap ‘Start Ride’ and a map will appear on the screen so you can follow your journey. You can also use the app to adjust the temperature, play your own music or podcasts, or listen to your car’s playlist.
At this stage they are not going to LAX. Or maybe I had the guts to try it, but I spoke to the hotel manager and he told me he had a ride around Santa Monica. He said they were pretty slow… They follow the rules of the road! Do not zip the inside to close the visible gap in the front. They also adhere to the speed limit well ;D
The car itself is covered in bells and whistles. The device rotates and buzzes, with cameras always checking its surroundings.
Let’s go next time. Have you been there yet?
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