The details
On Nov. 18, the company announced its intentions to begin fully autonomous driving in San Antonio, as well as Dallas and Houston.
In an email to Community Impact, Product Communications Manager Chris Bonelli said Waymo intends to make public rides available early in 2026.
Initially started in 2009 as the Google self-driving car project, Waymo now has autonomous ride-hailing services in major metro areas across the United States. According to the company’s website, vehicles use highly detailed custom maps with real-time sensor data to determine their exact location.
For San Antonio, fully autonomous testing with employees will begin “in the coming weeks,” Bonelli said. The company maps the territory before operating in a new area, noting all lane markers, stop signs, curbs, crosswalks and more.
Notable quote
Michael Daley, regional executive director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving Texas, said autonomous vehicles “hold the exciting promise” of preventing deaths and injuries caused on the road by behavioral factors such as impaired driving.
“Safely advancing progress toward fully autonomous vehicles will help achieve our mission of eliminating drunk and drugged driving,” Daley said.
