Self driving car company Waymo has begun operating on the streets of Detroit, marking its first move into a northern US city known for both its automotive heritage and harsh winters. For now, the vehicles will not be fully autonomous. Instead, trained drivers will be behind the wheel as the company maps the city and familiarises itself with its roads and weather conditions.
Detroit joins a growing list of cities where Waymo is expanding its autonomous taxi service. The company, which is part of Google’s parent firm Alphabet, already runs driverless services in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin and Atlanta, and has plans for San Diego and Las Vegas next year.
Learning from other cities
Waymo’s approach to expansion follows a familiar pattern. Each new location begins with weeks or months of manual driving, allowing the company’s software known as the Waymo Driver to learn local traffic patterns, road markings and regulations.
Experience from warmer cities has provided valuable lessons, but Detroit presents a fresh challenge. Until now, none of Waymo’s fully driverless operations have taken place in regions with heavy snowfall. To prepare, the company has tested its vehicles in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and other snowy areas to ensure its sensors and AI systems can recognise snow, slush and ice.
The Detroit fleet includes all electric Jaguar I PACE models and Zeekr RT vehicles built in partnership with Chinese automaker Geely. The newer Zeekr cars feature Waymo’s sixth generation technology, designed to operate in tougher weather conditions.
Aiming for safer, more accessible transport
Waymo’s supporters say its expansion could bring benefits beyond convenience. Organisations such as Best Buddies of Michigan and Mothers Against Drunk Driving have praised the company for offering safe and accessible transport options.
Jonathan Ganci from Best Buddies said the service could help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities access work and community life. Meanwhile, MADD’s regional director Alex Otte said self driving taxis offer another tool in the toolbox to prevent drink driving.
Challenges and controversies
Despite its progress, Waymo’s journey has not been without setbacks. Autonomous driving technology remains under intense scrutiny after incidents involving rival firms raised safety concerns. Cruise, a competitor owned by General Motors, recently halted operations following a high profile collision in San Francisco.
Waymo says it has completed more than ten million paid rides and over one hundred million autonomous miles on public roads without serious incident. Nevertheless, the company continues to operate under strict regulatory oversight. In many cities, its vehicles still require human safety drivers during the early stages of testing.
Detroit’s next chapter
The company has not yet confirmed when passengers will be able to hail a Waymo ride in Detroit, but its presence is seen as symbolic. The Motor City, once the centre of the American car industry, is now welcoming a new era of mobility driven by artificial intelligence and electrification.
For Waymo, Detroit offers both opportunity and challenge, a proving ground for technology that must navigate not just traffic, but snow, ice and the legacy of a city built on cars.
