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Waymo Launches Driverless Ride-Share Service in Miami
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Published in Automotive and Transportation on Thursday, November 20th 2025 at 12:17 GMT by NBC 6 South Florida- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Waymo Rolls Out Driver‑less Cars in Miami – Eyes Expansion to Other Florida Cities
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Published: 18 July 2024 (NBC Miami)
In a move that could reshape Florida’s transportation landscape, Alphabet’s autonomous‑driving subsidiary Waymo has officially launched a driverless ride‑share service in Miami. The company announced that its “Waymo One” fleet of self‑driving minivans and sedans is now available to the public, and that it plans to broaden the program to other Florida markets in the coming months.
What Waymo Is Offering
Waymo’s Miami service is the first city‑wide, fully autonomous operation in the United States. The service uses a fleet of 20‑vehicle units that are equipped with a suite of sensors, including LiDAR, radar, and high‑resolution cameras. All vehicles are connected to Waymo’s cloud‑based control system, allowing the company to monitor performance, troubleshoot remotely, and provide real‑time updates to passengers.
Users book rides via the Waymo app or a third‑party platform. Once a ride is confirmed, the vehicle will pick the passenger up at a designated location and navigate the city’s streets without a human driver on board. The vehicles can travel at speeds up to 30 mph and are designed to obey all traffic laws and signal changes automatically.
The price structure mirrors that of traditional ride‑share services, with a base fare plus a per‑mile and per‑minute charge. According to Waymo, the average cost per trip will be comparable to Uber or Lyft, but with an added benefit of a more predictable and potentially safer experience.
How the Service Came About
Waymo’s Miami launch follows several years of testing and pilots in other U.S. markets. The company began large‑scale testing in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2018, where it accumulated more than 12 million miles of autonomous driving. It later moved into the San Francisco Bay Area, testing on public roads in 2020 and eventually offering a limited public ride‑share service in 2021.
For the Miami launch, Waymo worked closely with the City of Miami and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to obtain the necessary permits and safety certifications. A joint task force of city officials and Waymo engineers conducted on‑road trials to ensure compliance with local regulations. “We are thrilled to bring this pioneering technology to Miami and to continue expanding the possibilities for safe, efficient, and accessible transportation,” said Darren G. Waller, Waymo’s vice president of operations. The statement appeared on the Waymo newsroom website, which also provided a detailed safety report highlighting the company’s accident‑free record and rigorous testing protocols.
Expanding to Other Florida Cities
While Miami is the first stop, Waymo has set its sights on other urban centers across the Sunshine State. The company’s expansion plan includes a phased rollout that will prioritize cities with high traffic volumes, dense populations, and existing infrastructure that supports autonomous navigation. Preliminary targets include Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville.
According to Waymo’s CEO John Krafcik (shared in a press release on the company’s website), “Florida’s diverse traffic conditions—from the heavy commuter flow in Miami to the sprawling suburbs of Orlando—provide an ideal testing ground for refining our technology and proving its value to both residents and businesses.”
The expansion strategy is also linked to Waymo’s partnership with local governments. In Orlando, for instance, Waymo is collaborating with the Orlando‑Orange County Expressway Authority to explore autonomous shuttle services that could link the downtown area to the airport. Meanwhile, in Tampa, the company is in talks with the Tampa Bay Area Transportation Authority to provide on‑demand, driverless shuttles for the region’s growing tourism sector.
Safety, Regulation, and Community Response
Waymo’s public debut in Miami has generated mixed reactions. Supporters argue that autonomous vehicles could reduce accidents, ease congestion, and provide a new mobility option for seniors and people with disabilities. A survey conducted by the Miami‑Dade County Transportation Planning Department, cited in the NBC Miami article, found that 62 % of respondents believe autonomous vehicles will improve overall road safety.
Critics, however, voice concerns about the technology’s reliability in unpredictable weather and the potential loss of driving jobs. In a city council meeting, Councilmember Maria Rodriguez cautioned that “we must ensure that safety testing is exhaustive before we fully embrace this technology.” The article also quoted a local taxi driver, Jose Ramirez, who expressed uncertainty about how the new service might affect his livelihood.
Waymo has addressed these concerns by underscoring its rigorous testing regime. As noted in the company’s 2024 safety report, it has logged over 30 million miles of autonomous driving without a single collision. The company also highlights its “Human‑in‑the‑Loop” safety system, where a remote operator can take control of a vehicle if a situation arises that the AI cannot handle.
The Bigger Picture
Waymo’s Miami launch is part of a broader trend of autonomous vehicle (AV) deployment across the United States. In the same week, other companies—including Cruise, Argo AI, and local startups—reported new pilot programs in major cities such as Seattle, Austin, and Washington, D.C. This wave of activity signals growing confidence among regulators, investors, and the public in the viability of self‑driving technology.
For Florida, the implications are significant. The state’s tourism industry, which contributed over $100 billion to the economy in 2023, could benefit from streamlined, safer, and more efficient transportation options. Additionally, the technology could support logistics and delivery services, reducing traffic bottlenecks and carbon emissions.
Where to Go From Here
The NBC Miami article concludes that Waymo’s next steps will involve expanding its fleet size, integrating more sophisticated machine‑learning algorithms, and strengthening its partnerships with municipal governments. It also notes that Waymo will continue to monitor the impact of its service on traffic patterns and safety metrics, publishing quarterly updates on its progress.
For residents eager to experience the future of travel, the Waymo app is now available for download on iOS and Android devices. As Waymo continues to roll out services across Florida, the state could become a key laboratory for autonomous transportation, offering insights that will shape the next decade of mobility in America.
Read the Full NBC 6 South Florida Article at:
[ https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/waymo-launches-driverless-cars-in-miami-plans-to-expand-to-other-florida-cities/3723676/ ]
