Autonomous Vehicles in the PHX East Valley

Autonomous vehicles, once a concept of science fiction, are suddenly becoming a reality thanks to big names in the technology and transportation industry. These companies such as Waymo, Intel and GM among others have helped pave the way for the future of safe and efficient transportation.

Self-driving vehicles have the potential to dramatically reduce distracted driving fatalities, and eliminate the human error element in driving. This transformative technology also holds the promise of increasing the mobility of those who can’t operate a vehicle from the old, young and those with disabilities.

Arizona and more specifically the PHX East Valley, has become one of the leading areas for autonomous vehicle testing in the U.S. Due to the amazing weather and the support of Governor Doug Ducey, this region has become a hub for self-driving vehicles sparking industry leaders such as Ford and GM to also move their driverless car operations to Arizona.

Waymo, the Driving Force

Waymo, which is a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc., has been leading the way in the autonomous vehicle industry.

In early 2016, the company began testing in the Greater Phoenix area and has since partnered with Intel who has a large presence in Chandler, Arizona to design, build and test the vehicles right here in our region. As the industry continues to evolve, the company has taken the initiative in educating the local, Arizona community through their “Let’s Talk Self-driving” campaign for which they have partnered with our organization, the Foundation for Blind Children, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other nationally recognized organizations who are taking a stand to help educate the public on how self-driving cars can transform our lives.

Development and Testing Continues

In late 2017, Waymo announced that some of the vehicles in their Chandler, Arizona fleet would no longer have a driver behind the wheel (You can read more on this here).  However, most of the company’s fleet still operates with a test driver behind the wheel to take control in the event of vehicle error.  In addition, Waymo launched an Early Rider program for select members of the Arizona community. This allows the public to share in the self-driving vehicle testing experience. (You can read more on this here).

As of today, Waymo’s fleet has collectively driven over 5 million miles and adding more miles each day.

Read more about self-driving vehicles in the PHX East Valley below: