Waymo is expanding its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to include freeway travel across Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area. Starting today, select riders can experience driverless highway transportation through the Waymo app, marking a significant milestone in autonomous vehicle deployment across major metropolitan corridors.
Highlights
- Waymo begins rolling out fully autonomous freeway rides to select riders in LA, Phoenix, and expanded SF Bay Area territory
- Service territory extends from San Francisco to San Jose, including curbside pickup at San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)
- Freeway capabilities will expand to Austin and Atlanta markets in future deployment phases
- Expansion built on millions of real-world freeway miles with employees and guests across existing markets
Multi-Market Freeway Deployment Strategy
Waymo’s freeway service launch represents the culmination of extensive real-world testing across three major markets. The autonomous driving system has logged millions of miles navigating highway dynamics with company employees and invited riders in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles prior to public deployment.
The expanded service enables:
- Airport connectivity: Direct routes to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix and San Jose Mineta International Airport
- Urban-to-suburban corridors: Trips from Downtown LA to Culver City and throughout the Peninsula region
- Extended Bay Area coverage: Full service from San Francisco through the Peninsula to San Jose
Now beginning to offer fully autonomous freeways rides in SF, LA, and PHX! Express interest in the Waymo app to be one of the first in the world to relax on freeways with no one behind the wheel. More about this and our SF Bay Area expansion at https://t.co/6cnm1PirMo pic.twitter.com/mj7ybLic9T
— Waymo (@Waymo) November 12, 2025
Technical Validation and Safety Protocols
The freeway expansion follows comprehensive testing protocols and operational preparation across Waymo’s existing markets. The deployment incorporates data from real-world performance metrics gathered during employee and guest testing phases, validating the system’s capability to handle high-speed highway environments.
Waymo has coordinated with safety officials throughout the development process to ensure regulatory compliance and operational readiness for public freeway service. The phased rollout approach allows for continued monitoring and refinement as service scales to additional riders.
Future Market Expansion
Waymo plans to introduce freeway capabilities to Austin and Atlanta markets as part of its ongoing expansion strategy. The company will gradually increase rider access across existing markets while maintaining focus on safety performance and service reliability metrics.
Interested riders can express interest through the Waymo mobile application to gain early access to freeway trips as availability expands.
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