Autonomous vehicle operator Waymo is expanding its coverage area in the Valley, adding 90 square miles in the northern reaches of Phoenix and Scottsda

Waymo expands area for its self-driving cars to north Scottsdale, Desert Ridge

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2024-06-06 02:30:03

Autonomous vehicle operator Waymo is expanding its coverage area in the Valley, adding 90 square miles in the northern reaches of Phoenix and Scottsdale, with some destinations on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.

Phoenix was already home to the largest fully autonomous service area in the U.S., but the expansion grows that area to 315 square miles. Attractions in the expanded coverage area now include Desert Ridge Marketplace, TPC Scottsdale, the Talking Stick Entertainment District and some parts of Mesa, including the Mesa Arts Center and Pioneer Park.

“The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is excited to announce its partnership with Waymo,” said community President Martin Harvier in a statement. “This collaboration marks a significant step forward in our commitment to innovation and sustainable solutions. Waymo's proven track record in developing and deploying autonomous technologies gives us confidence that this initiative will revolutionize the way people travel within our city, enhancing accessibility, safety, and efficiency for residents and visitors alike.”

Along with expanding the coverage area, Waymo is also improving the in-vehicle music features, allowing riders to customize the music selection through new iHeartRadio stations. The in-car screens also feature a redesigned display so riders can more clearly see how the vehicle perceives objects like stop signs and other information on the road.