Waymo Reveals Commercial Expansion with More Than 1,500 Robotaxis
For years, Waymo has kept tight-lipped about the number of Jaguar I-Pace EVs in its autonomous fleet, which includes vehicles used for testing and commercial robotaxi services. However, in a recent announcement, the Alphabet-owned company unveiled a glimpse into the commercial side of its fleet.
Waymo disclosed that it currently has over 1,500 commercial robotaxis in operation and is on track to further expand its fleet through a substantial investment with Magna. The partnership aims to manufacture more than 2,000 autonomous I-Pace vehicles at a new factory in Arizona, signaling a significant step towards scaling up its autonomous mobility services.
Having collaborated with Magna in the past at a facility in Detroit, Waymo chose Mesa, Arizona, as the site for its new 239,000-square-foot factory due to its strategic location in one of Waymo’s key robotaxi markets. The consistent weather in Mesa also provides an ideal environment for the validation process required before the robotaxis can be deployed for public use.
The integration of Waymo’s self-driving system into the Jaguar I-Pace vehicles will be carried out by Magna at the Mesa factory, following the final delivery of the vehicles earlier this year. Waymo emphasized a streamlined production process that enables the autonomous vehicles to be ready for public service within minutes of leaving the factory.
According to Waymo, the Mesa factory is not limited to producing I-Pace vehicles but is also equipped to handle other vehicle platforms. The facility will soon integrate the sixth-generation of Waymo’s self-driving system into the Zeekr RT, demonstrating the company’s commitment to advancing autonomous technology.
Techcrunch Event
Berkeley, CA
|
June 5
Book Now
As Waymo continues to optimize its manufacturing processes, the Mesa factory will introduce automated assembly lines and other efficiencies to ramp up production capacity. With the ability to build tens of thousands of fully autonomous vehicles annually when operating at full capacity, the factory represents a significant milestone in Waymo’s mission to revolutionize transportation through autonomous technology.
