Waymo is stepping up its game. After successful early deployments in Phoenix, San Francisco, L.A., and Austin, the company launched dual “road trips” this week — one in Philadelphia and another in New York City — both crucial milestones in testing its autonomous rideshare ambitions.

  • Philadelphia: Vehicles equipped with Waymo’s autonomous stack are mapping “complex parts” of the city — covering neighborhoods from North Central to Eastwick and bustling freeways.
  • New York City: While awaiting DOT permit approval, Waymo is conducting manual drives through Manhattan, Brooklyn, and even Jersey City and Hoboken.

These strategic testing runs continue Waymo's pattern: move in, map, learn — and eventually roll out full-fledged service. The stakes are high: New York’s dense, unpredictable streets represent a major technical and regulatory hurdle. Permits require safety drivers for now, but Waymo is pushing lawmakers to allow fully driverless operations.

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This expansion aligns with Alphabet’s broader goal: translating heavy investments in autonomous R&D into revenue-generating "Waymo One" rides. The company runs over 250,000 paid trips weekly across its existing markets and recently entered a partnership with Uber in Atlanta — deploying dozens of Jaguar I-PACE EVs, with plans to expand fleet size significantly.

That said, Waymo still operates at a loss — its unit posted a $4.1B loss last year, despite $5.6B in Alphabet funding. As testing scales up, so does the pressure to prove this tech can be monetized sustainably in tough markets like NYC.

📌 What to watch

  • Permits and regulation: Will NYC DOT green-light full AV testing later this summer?
  • Tech adaptability: Can Waymo handle Philly’s varied traffic and NYC’s chaotic streets reliably?
  • Monetization path: Will new rideshare partnerships (e.g. Uber Atlanta) deliver revenue traction?
  • Competitive intensity: Tesla’s robotaxi pilots and Cruise exit heighten the stakes for autonomous leadership.

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