Waymo Expands Self-Driving Service to Icy Cities by 2026

UPDATE: Waymo has just announced plans to expand its self-driving vehicle service to the icy streets of Detroit and Denver, alongside San Diego and Las Vegas, starting in 2026. This expansion marks a significant shift for the company, which has primarily operated in warmer climates until now.

The autonomous car service will initially feature human drivers behind the wheel, but Waymo is gearing up for full autonomous operations in these challenging environments. The vehicles, including the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr RT, will soon navigate winter weather conditions that have historically posed challenges for self-driving technology.

Currently, Waymo operates driverless vehicles in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, while employing safety drivers in New York City and Denver. The company is also partnered with Uber in Atlanta and Austin, with plans for further expansion in Washington, D.C. and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Waymo’s entry into cities known for harsh winters raises critical questions about the reliability of autonomous technology in adverse weather. Recent discussions on social media highlight concerns about whether self-driving vehicles can handle snowy, slippery roads, especially after a Waymo vehicle was involved in the death of a neighborhood cat in San Francisco last month.

In response to these concerns, Waymo released a blog post detailing its advancements in AI technology, claiming it has trained its systems to recognize varying road conditions, including snow and ice. According to the post, “Each vehicle essentially acts as a mobile weather station,” gathering data to improve driving decisions and share insights across the fleet.

Experts, like Tristan Swedish from imaging company Ubicept, emphasize the challenges posed by winter conditions. He notes that while summer driving in cities like San Francisco and Las Vegas presents fewer obstacles, winter driving demands advanced perception systems to ensure safety. “When you move to a more adverse weather scenario, there are ways to overcome those challenges using advanced perception systems,” he stated.

Waymo’s efforts come as public interest in autonomous vehicle technology continues to grow, but so do regulatory challenges. In California, the California Public Utilities Commission and the California DMV regulate companies like Waymo, and recent incidents have prompted calls for stricter oversight. A local supervisor’s resolution aims to give counties more control over robotaxi operations, indicating the community’s desire for greater safety measures.

As Waymo prepares to enter these new markets, the company faces the dual challenge of adapting its technology for winter conditions while navigating public apprehension about self-driving vehicles. With the announcement of its 2026 launch, the focus now shifts to how well Waymo can prove its technology’s reliability in slick, icy conditions.

Stay tuned for further updates as Waymo gears up for this ambitious expansion into some of the most challenging driving environments in the United States.