Waymo has confirmed the expansion of its self-driving taxi service to include testing in Chicago, Illinois, and Charlotte, North Carolina. This initiative involves "manual mapping and early data collection" to assess local driving conditions, and it will utilize human drivers to gather essential data over several months.
Challenges are anticipated in both cities. Chicago's notorious winter weather and heavy traffic could complicate operations, while Charlotte is known for its unique driving behaviors that could pose additional difficulties. Currently, Waymo is also conducting tests in other cities like Washington DC, Denver, and London.
Despite the testing phase, no timeline has been announced for when driverless taxi services will commence in Chicago or Charlotte.