Waymo expands its self-driving operations ahead of ride service

Waymo is expanding its self-driving car operations in Chandler in preparation for its first public ride-service, which will launch in Arizona later this year.

The Mountain View, Californiabased company, formerly known as the Google Self-Driving Car Project, was using about 390,000 square feet of space in a warehouse district near Chandler Boulevard and 56th Street, but is building out an additional 29,000 square feet.

The space services and houses dozens of Chrysler Pacifica minivans that provide rides for more than 400 people in the “Early Rider” program.

“We’re gearing up for growth,” said Ellice Perez, head of operations, during a Monday trip to Arizona.

The new space will house more workers and more vehicles to serve a growing number of people using its ride service. Waymo officials said the company works with local officials to find workers to fill its ranks.

The company eventually plans to offer service nationwide, and in May announced a deal to buy as many as 60,000 vehicles from Fiat Chrysler. The first test market will be Chandler, where the company has tested selfdriving cars since 2016.

The Chandler operations center houses dozens of vehicles and fleet technicians, dispatchers, a passenger support staff and a team of workers that can see real-time road conditions from vehicles in the field and help vehicles navigate problems such as unplanned road closures.

The company won’t disclose how many employees it has in Arizona, but about 20 were in the operations center at lunchtime Monday, with many more presumably in the field operating vehicles.

The company also won’t disclose how many vehicles it has in the state, but about 30 were in the operations center, and the Department of Transportation reported that as of March Waymo had 73 registered in the state, though it may operate some in Arizona that are licensed elsewhere.

The company has more than 600 cars in its fleet nationwide.

The Early Rider program launched in April 2017, offering Chandler-area residents free rides within the area where the vehicles operate.

The program continues to accept new applicants, but not all rides are free now, with Waymo testing pricing strategies ahead of the public launch of its ride service,

“That’s how it started but now it’s a combination,” Perez said, adding that the company is testing various promotions and incentives before the public is able to hail a self-driving car from Waymo.

When the public ride service launches, it will be limited to the portions of Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Gilbert and Ahwatukee that Waymo has mapped and programmed into its cars’ capabilities. But that area is constantly expanding, officials said.

Lilla Gaffney, 29, of Mesa, has used the service for more than a year. Her brother-in-law and husband also are participants.

“It’s made me hopeful for the future of self-driving cars,” she said.

She uses it at least three times a week to go to the gym.

She said she also has begun to share her personal car with friends because she doesn't need it as frequently because of Waymo.

Her husband has taken the Waymo service so much his car battery died from infrequent use, she said.

“I’m looking forward to the part where there are no drivers in the car,” she said.

She is quick to notice when the cars have been upgraded. Since starting the service, she’s noticed the cars become more assertive when merging onto the interstate, more closely mimicking how a human might merge into traffic. And she helped Waymo upgrade its system through rider feedback.

She noticed the cars traveling an annoying 5 miles per hour in the parking lot of a friend’s apartment. She notified Waymo that the posted limit was 10 miles per hour, and the next day noticed the car driving faster in the lot.

“The feedback system is extremely responsive,” she said.