By Tanisha Bucad
LOS ANGELES— Waymo has expanded its fully autonomous ride-hailing service across more than 120 square miles of Los Angeles, adding neighborhoods such as Playa del Rey, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and Ladera Heights to its coverage map. The move marks a significant milestone for the Alphabet-owned company, which remains the only operator offering completely driverless rides to the general public in the city.
Since opening to riders in late 2024, Waymo’s Los Angeles fleet has provided hundreds of thousands of paid trips, part of a broader national rollout that includes San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin. The company now delivers more than 250,000 rides per week across its markets and has surpassed 10 million lifetime rides.
Waymo reports a strong safety record, citing a low crash rate and a reduction in human-error incidents compared to early pilot programs. Riders have largely praised the experience, citing smooth navigation, courteous virtual prompts, and the novelty of fully driverless travel.
As Los Angeles commuters increasingly adopt the service, Waymo is preparing further expansion into new U.S. cities by the end of 2025. The company’s growth signals a shift in public trust and regulatory momentum toward a driverless future.
