The self-driving car company Waymo wants to launch its taxi service in Washington in 2026, asking the District to allow autonomous vehicles on city streets without a person behind the wheel.
The company, part of Google’s parent firm Alphabet, has tested vehicles in the District for several years with a person in the car and says it has logged thousands of miles on city roads. But self-driving cars are not legal in D.C. without a person behind the wheel as a backstop. “We are working closely with District officials to formalize the framework needed to operate fully autonomously and serve riders next year,” Waymo spokesman Ethan Teicher said.
The Bowser administration has been working for years to create regulations around autonomous operations; in the meantime, D.C. Council legislation has governed testing of robotic cars. Any rules allowing robotaxis to operate could be narrowed or expanded by lawmakers. Waymo would also need to be licensed to operate as a ride-hailing service in the city.
