The United States is at the forefront of autonomous driving technology, spearheaded by Waymo One, which is currently providing over 250,000 paid rides weekly across cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. Looking ahead, Waymo plans to expand its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C. by 2026, moving further away from the realm of science fiction and into daily reality for riders.
To accommodate this growth and the rising demand for rides, Waymo is investing in its manufacturing capabilities with the establishment of a new autonomous vehicle factory in Metro Phoenix in partnership with Magna. This state-of-the-art facility will produce thousands of fully autonomous Jaguar I-PACE vehicles, designed and assembled in the U.S. Covering 239,000 square feet, the investment in this factory amounts to millions and is set to create hundreds of jobs in Mesa, Arizona, supporting the local economy and future expansion plans.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs expressed pride in the factory’s role in reinforcing the state’s position as a leading hub for technological innovation. She highlighted the importance of autonomous vehicles in improving safety and efficiency in transportation.
Waymo has seen significant growth in its operations over the past few years, expanding its commercial fleet to over 1,500 vehicles across various cities. Earlier this year, the final delivery from Jaguar was completed, with plans to manufacture more than 2,000 additional fully autonomous I-PACE vehicles in the upcoming year. Ryan McNamara, Waymo’s Vice President of Operations, emphasized the plant’s importance to the company’s future growth, focusing on cost efficiency and the ability to scale production.
The factory will also focus on enhancing the integration of the 6th-generation Waymo Driver across new vehicle platforms, starting with the Zeekr RT. Its design will facilitate automated assembly lines that can support multiple vehicle platforms simultaneously, with a capacity to build tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles annually when fully operational.
Additionally, the new facility has streamlined processes allowing vehicles equipped with the Waymo Driver to begin public service almost immediately after production. Vehicles designated for the Phoenix fleet can pick up passengers just half an hour post-assembly, while those sent to other cities can be operational within mere hours.
This timely development not only signifies progress in technology but also reflects positively on job creation and economic growth in Arizona, showcasing a bright future in autonomous transportation.