Skift Take
Don’t expect self-driving cars to get you to far-flung destinations or on multi-city road trips. But you’ll be seeing more trips to the airport.
A comfy ride with a driver who doesn’t tire, skips the chitchat, and never expects a tip can set the tone for a worry-free vacation — even when the driver is the automobile itself.In fact, according to Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle (AV) business, self-driving cars have become a tourist attraction in their own right. This suggests that at least some portion of the public is interested in this transportation option. Or at least qualifies as robo-car curious.In this and other ways, AVs seem like a natural fit for travel applications. Yet beyond short ride-hailing trips, the promise remains largely unfulfilled.For how …
Skift Take
Don’t expect self-driving cars to get you to far-flung destinations or on multi-city road trips. But you’ll be seeing more trips to the airport.
A comfy ride with a driver who doesn’t tire, skips the chitchat, and never expects a tip can set the tone for a worry-free vacation — even when the driver is the automobile itself.In fact, according to Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle (AV) business, self-driving cars have become a tourist attraction in their own right. This suggests that at least some portion of the public is interested in this transportation option. Or at least qualifies as robo-car curious.In this and other ways, AVs seem like a natural fit for travel applications. Yet beyond short ride-hailing trips, the promise remains largely unfulfilled.For how long remains to be seen. Because Waymo and others are expanding their markets, taking on partners, and tackling regulatory hurdles. As they move to blanket the world with driverless cars, one city and one airport at a time, here’s how the opportunity is starting to play out.
The Way for Waymo
Waymo, a sibling company to Google, was founded in 20