Alphabet’s Waymo is beginning robotaxi test drives in Denver and Seattle this week with human safety drivers at the wheel, according to CNBC. The rides will be manned while Waymo validates technology and operations ahead of fully autonomous service. The expansion adds to existing driverless operations in Austin, Atlanta, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. In some cities, Waymo rides are hailed through Uber, while others require its Waymo One app. The company said up to a dozen Jaguar iPace and Geely Zeekr AVs will begin tests in each new market. Waymo faces global competition from Baidu’s Apollo Go, which runs driverless ride-hailing services across Asia. Tesla is also entering the space, with a Texas ride-hailing permit and manned robotaxi tests in Austin and San Francisco.
