Overview
- Waymo confirmed it has begun manual mapping and early data collection with human drivers in Chicago and Charlotte.
- In Chicago, the company said initial drives will focus on areas east of the Kennedy and Dan Ryan expressways from the South Loop to Wrigleyville.
- Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office said autonomous vehicles are not authorized in the city or the state, and State Rep. Kam Buckner filed legislation to permit testing in Cook County.
- Waymo has not provided a timeline for when fully driverless public service could begin in Chicago.
- The expansion comes as regulators review safety concerns in other markets, including an NTSB inquiry in Austin and a San Francisco incident, while Waymo cites 127 million autonomous miles and lower collision rates than human drivers in current markets.