By Ryan Randazzo | The Republic
Nobody is behind the wheel in some of Waymo’s white minivans shuttling people around Chandler and other East Valley cities, the company announced Tuesday.
Arizona is the first global testing ground for the truly driverless cars on public roads, Waymo CEO John Krafcik said during a technology conference speech in Lisbon, Portugal.
Much like the Uber Volvos and Chevy Bolts testing autonomous technology in the Phoenix area, Waymo’s Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans and Lexus RX 450h vehicles have relied on a driver behind the wheel to take control when needed.
Now Waymo is removing the driver entirely for some trips, just as it has on its private testing grounds in California.
In October, the company successfully tested its driverless minivans — with employees in the back seat — on public roads in the Chandler area and plans to continue similar tests.
