ORLANDO, Fla. – After welcoming more than 60,000 riders in Orlando, Waymo is making its autonomous ride-hailing service available to everyone.
Starting Wednesday, the Waymo app will be fully open to anyone in the Orlando area.
When Waymo launched in February, it operated an early access phase and was invite-only to users.
The rollout marks a significant milestone for Central Florida, where driverless vehicles are now operating on public roads covering 60 square miles, including downtown Orlando and the tourism district.
[TIMELINE: Waymo makes its way to Orlando. Here’s the company’s journey]
Officials said the phased approach is intended to ensure safety while building public confidence in the technology.
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Waymo vehicles use cameras, radar, lidar sensors, and artificial intelligence to navigate without human input.
Supporters say the technology could reduce crashes caused by human error, which account for the majority of traffic collisions, and expand mobility for people who cannot drive.