Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company, announced on Wednesday its next phase of testing that aims to bring its ride-hailing service to select areas of San Diego. After months of the light-blue all-electric Zeekr RT minivans assessing Waymo software with a human in the front seat, the vehicles will further enhance the company’s testing of San Diego roads and freeways by going fully autonomous — with no human at the controls. A spokesperson for Waymo told the Union-Tribune this next round of assessments will start in a matter of weeks. During that time, all rides will only be available to Waymo employees. So when can everyday San Diegans catch a ride? The company said it expects to provide trips by the end of this year. Waymo is driving and collecting information in neighborhoods that include Pacific Beach, Normal Heights, La Playa in Point Loma, South Crest and other areas within the city limits — although not as far north as La Jolla. In recent months, the minivans have almost become a common sight in places like Bankers Hill and Hillcrest. The company also announced that in addition to San Diego, cities such as Las Vegas, Denver and Tampa will soon be driving in fully autonomous mode. Waymo is already fully operational in 11 cities, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Dallas, with a network spanning more than 1,800 square miles. When fully put into place, customers can hail a Waymo robo-taxi 24/7 by downloading an app. But while Waymo touts its move into the San Diego market, some want to put the brakes on the rollout. Critics have come to the Metropolitan Transit System meetings to voice concerns, including potential job losses, safety issues, and the robotaxis possibly blocking first responders. “Allowing autonomous passenger services without guardrails opens the