Alphabet's self-driving unit Waymo just cleared a massive hurdle in the race to commercialize robotaxis. The company announced today its sixth-generation autonomous driving system is ready for passenger trips, marking the first major tech upgrade since 2020. The rollout starts with employees and their friends in San Francisco and Los Angeles before expanding to public riders, but here's the real story: this generation is built for high-volume production across multiple vehicle platforms.
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Waymo's sixth-generation autonomous driving system launches for passenger trips in SF and LA, according to The Verge
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The updated tech replaces Jaguar I-Pace fleet running fifth-gen systems since March 2020, discontinued by Jaguar in late 2024
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New system designed for multi-vehicle compatibility and high-volume manufacturing, signaling Waymo's shift from experimental to scaled deployment
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Rollout begins with employee access before expanding to public customers in coming months
