Waymo, Alphabet’s robotaxi unit, plans to deploy its robotaxis and “Waymo One” ride-hail service in Miami by 2025, testing initially before opening to riders in 2026. The company will partner with Nigerian mobility enabler Moove to manage local logistics, including depots, fleet management, and charging of electric vehicles.
Moove, which focuses on financing cars for ride-hail services, has partnered with Waymo to start managing the robotaxi service’s local facilities in Phoenix before expanding to Miami. This partnership differs from Waymo’s existing arrangement with Uber, which it uses as a logistics partner in Atlanta and Austin.
Waymo will maintain control over its fleet of vehicles but will outsource non-robotaxi operations such as charging and maintenance to local providers like Moove. The company plans to focus on safety, relations with local governments, and emergency response, while leaving logistics tasks to the partners.
Miami’s unique weather conditions make it an ideal test ground for Waymo’s robotaxis, which will need to develop protocols for emergency storm evacuations. The service will use the Waymo One ride-hail app, a departure from its existing use of only the Uber app in other cities.
This partnership marks an important milestone for the robotaxi industry, which is still learning and adapting. By partnering with local companies, Waymo can focus on safety and operations while leveraging expertise that may not be available in-house.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradtempleton/2024/12/05/waymo-to-launch-robotaxi-in-miami-in-2026-with-logistics-partner-moove