Any taxi service will rely on several elements which limit their service area:
1. Availability. How many vehicles are in an area, that can respond to dispatch?
2. Demand. Can't have too many idle vehicles scooting around and taking up space.
3. Service. Must establish depots where the vehicles can return for charging, cleaning and maintenance.
4. Support. Waymo Support is a tap away, and if a vehicle gets particularly jammed up, they will dispatch a technician in their own vehicle. Support can also monitor telemetry and push commands to give nudges (but cannot remotely drive a car).
So with the current model, I do not envision Waymo service areas expanding beyond the reach of their depots, or offering long-haul trips between urban centers.
1. Availability. How many vehicles are in an area, that can respond to dispatch?
2. Demand. Can't have too many idle vehicles scooting around and taking up space.
3. Service. Must establish depots where the vehicles can return for charging, cleaning and maintenance.
4. Support. Waymo Support is a tap away, and if a vehicle gets particularly jammed up, they will dispatch a technician in their own vehicle. Support can also monitor telemetry and push commands to give nudges (but cannot remotely drive a car).
So with the current model, I do not envision Waymo service areas expanding beyond the reach of their depots, or offering long-haul trips between urban centers.