Waymo, a self-driving tech firm owned by Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL), the parent company of Google, has suspended its robotaxi freeway rides across four cities due to performance issues in construction zones. Waymo said the move is part of ongoing efforts to improve system reliability in complex road conditions. Despite the pause, robotaxis continue to operate on surface streets, while software updates are being deployed. Waymo added that it expects to resume freeway routes once improvements are complete.
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Robotaxi Freeway Rides Suspended as Operational Issues Mount
On Thursday, May 21, Waymo stopped robotaxi freeway rides in four cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami. However, street-level rides are still running in all four cities, ensuring mobility continues. The company said it is adding new software updates and expects freeway routes to start again once the upgrades are done.
Before this move, Waymo had paused services in Atlanta and San Antonio due to flooding issues. The company later released a software fix to handle the road flooding in San Antonio. These disruptions have caused repeated service stops even as Waymo’s system is updated for real driving conditions.
Notably, Waymo has revealed that no single event caused it to halt freeway rides, though construction zone challenges were mentioned. Freeway driving remains a key part of the firm’s services. It ensures faster trips to the airport and shorter travel times in major cities.
Waymo Expansion Plans Trigger Public Concerns
Waymo continues to expand its autonomous driving goals, targeting up to one million paid rides per week by the end of 2026. The company is also testing a new Zeker-built robotaxi, called “Ojai,” as part of its next-generation fleet development as it moves into new cities globally.
However, concerns have emerged around driving performance in certain environments. On X, a user, Elliot Slade, posted a video claiming the vehicle “blasted through cones” and was allegedly “chased” by police. The post highlights ongoing public scrutiny as Waymo continues to operate in complex construction zones.
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