Background:
Waymo has been publically talking about their 6th-generation vehicle since the end of 2021. It has the possibility of having no steering wheel or pedals.
Currently, Waymo uses vehicles based on Jaguar I-paces, with on the order of a few hundred vehicles in service. The new platform could be significantly cheaper and potentially more capable. Thus, the release of these vehicles is significant, as it might begin the more rapid expansion of the number of vehicles and availability of an autonomous taxi service.
Question:
By when will members of the public ride in these vehicles through the Waymo One app (or successor apps)?
Details:
Members of the public excludes Waymo/Alphabet employees, or selective demonstration rides. It must be hailed through an app, but possibly might be restricted to some form of waitlist of "trusted testers". The rides must be fully driverless, but can have a steering wheel. The rides may be in any city.
This market resolves on Waymo public announcements, or credible news media.
Pacific Time zone will be used for dates, with before a given date, referring to before 00:00 Pacific on that date.
Update 2025-11-01 (PST) (AI summary of creator comment): - Hyundai IONIQ 5 vehicles will not count towards a "yes" resolution. These were announced as a partnership in October 2024 and were on display at CES in January 2025.
The resolution pertains specifically to Zeekr vehicles without steering wheels as per the question wording.
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On public roads?
On roads with other cars on them?
On certain types of road only, such as no motorways/freeways.
On public or private roads?
In a specific region?
On mass or a few one off journeys?
Available to only certain types of customers?
Does it need to be successful, what if they're all recalled within a week due to an excessive number of accidents and the scheme is scrapped?
What if the queue ends up so long that it's mostly just a hypothetical that real customers can actually use these?
@AlanTennant
On public roads?
yes
On roads that have cars on them?
yes
In a specific region? & On mass or a few one off journeys? & Available to only certain types of customers?
see
> "Members of the public excludes Waymo/Alphabet employees, or selective demonstration rides. It must be hailed through an app, but possibly might be restricted to some form of waitlist of "trusted testers". The rides must be fully driverless, but can have a steering wheel. The rides may be in any city."
Does it need to be successful, what if they're all recalled within a week due to an excessive number of accidents and the scheme is scrapped?
> "This market resolves on Waymo public announcements, or credible news media."
What happens later is not part of the resolution.
Clarification: The Hyundai IONIQ 5 vehicles will not count for a "yes" resolution here. These were announced as a partnership in October 2024 and were on display at CES in January 2025 . The choice here is a bit tricky, but wording here seems about the Zeekr ones without steering wheels. Let me know if you disagree based on the question wording.
Clarification: Waymo has announced that Uber will be managing the deployment in a few cities (Austin and Atlanta). If member of the public is able to hail this new generation vehicle via the Uber app that will be enough for a yes resolution (I'll count it as a "successor apps").
@DavidFWatson No, multiple can resolve if before a given date (so if resolved in February 2025, three markets would resolve yes).
Also, I N/A'd the "Not before July 1, 2026" option, as really it is just the inverse of the "Before July 1, 2026" option.
Thanks for comment, and sorry for lack of clarity.