Waymo and Via Team Up for Autonomous Public Transit in Arizona
...Source: https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/waym... Transcript: Drive Tesla is reporting that Waymo is teaming up with Via Transportation to bring driverless robotaxi rides into a public transit system for the first time. Starting this fall in Chandler, Arizona, Waymo’s autonomous vehicles will be integrated into the city's existing Chandler Flex microtransit program, which has been using Via’s on-demand ride software since 2022.
Passengers will continue paying just $2 per trip, and the service will remain accessible—offering discounts to seniors and wheelchair users, and free rides for students. During busy times, some riders will now get matched with a Waymo robotaxi instead of a human-driven shuttle.
This move marks a shift for Waymo—Alphabet’s self-driving division—as it transitions from private ride-hailing into city-run transportation. The robotaxis will be booked and dispatched using the same system used by local transit authorities, making fleet management, compliance, and funding more seamless.
Waymo is currently running fully driverless service in five cities, and just announced plans to expand to Nashville in 2026 in partnership with Lyft. The company also recently got approval to begin robotaxi service at San Francisco International Airport.