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- Waymo will be accepting public riders within a 60-square-mile area of Miami starting Thursday.
- The company will start with a limited number of riders before expanding to the general public.
- Waymo said it plans to expand to highways and more riders later this year.
Waymo is expanding its robotaxi service to Miami on Thursday, putting the Alphabet-backed company another step ahead of competitors racing to deploy fully autonomous cars in the US.
A company spokesperson told Business Insider that Waymo will invite users in Miami gradually before expanding the service to everyone. More than 10,000 residents have signed up, according to Waymo.
The initial service area will cover 60 square miles. This includes the Miami's core corridor: Design District, Wynwood, Brickell, and Coral Gables.
Waymo
For now, the geofence does not include Miami Beach. The company said it has plans to expand to Miami International Airport.
"We're excited to offer its residents and visitors a safe, reliable, and magical way to move around and look forward to earning their trust with every ride," Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said in a statement.
Here's what you should know.
How many robotaxis is Waymo deploying in Miami?
A Waymo spokesperson didn't disclose a specific number for the initial Miami deployment but said that the service will start with a limited number of vehicles before expanding.
When will Waymo be available to everyone within the Miami coverage area?
Waymo will be opening the service to everyone later in 2026, according to the spokesperson.
The spokesperson did not share how many riders Waymo will invite for the initial launch.
Can Waymo's robotaxis take the highways in Miami?
For now, Waymo's robotaxis won't be available on highways. The spokesperson said those routes will be available to public riders later this year.
How will Miami riders hail a Waymo?
Riders can only request a robotaxi through the Waymo app.
The company is not partnering with other ride-hailing companies for the initial Miami launch. In some service areas, like Austin or Atlanta, riders can hail a robotaxi through Uber.
Waymo is outsourcing the management of its fleets, including charging and maintenance, to Moove, a Nigerian mobility fintech.
Will Waymo be able to handle Miami's inclement weather?
Waymo said in its press release that its AI driver will be able to handle conditions from sunny weather to "tropical downpours."
A Waymo spokesperson said the company will operate the robotaxis only when conditions fall within its safety framework and will heed local guidance during unsafe weather, adding that the company has validated its AI driver across adverse conditions such as flooding, debris, and outages.
Waymo has previously had to pause its service during flash flooding and large-scale power outages.
In December, Waymo's robotaxis were seen stuck in the middle of intersections after a blackout in San Francisco that affected more than a third of the city's residents.
The company said at the time that its remote operating center was overwhelmed with requests from its vehicles seeking additional confirmation on how to navigate downed traffic lights.
What other robotaxis are available in Miami?
Waymo will be the first fully autonomous ride-hailing service open to the public in Miami.
Amazon's Zoox and Tesla Robotaxi have shared that they are targeting the Florida city for future deployments.