Autonomous Trucks
Six years after launching its autonomous-truck program, Waymo has said it’s decided to focus more on developing its ridesharing ambitions using its self-driving cars and minivans. Customers involved in the program can use an app to call a Waymo driverless car in the same way they would book an Uber. Waymo will continue its partnership with Daimler Truck North America with the aim of advancing the technical development of an autonomous truck platform, the pair confirmed. The company is continuing to work on developing Waymo Driver — the autonomous software and hardware that powers the Waymo vehicles — with improvements carried across to its pared-down trucking efforts. Waymo began tests of its hands-free Class 8 big rig in Arizona in 2017 before continuing trials in Atlanta, Georgia, the following year.