Here's Where You Can Experience a Driverless Taxi in 2024

The robo-taxi market is still developing, but a few pioneers are already in operation.

Doug Newcomb | 

Oct 16, 2024 | 4 min read

Hyundai

The dream of developing and deploying driverless taxis that can whisk passengers to their destinations without a human behind the wheel has taken multiple decades and many dollars to become reality. Despite delays by Tesla, one of the top companies developing driverless taxis, fully autonomous robo-taxis are finally here and operating in several cities.

Currently, two companies are offering fully driverless rides in limited areas. Two others previously provided rides but recently suspended operations, and one company promises to launch before the end of 2024.

Jaguar

Waymo One

Waymo One is the first company to operate a 24/7 fully autonomous ride-hailing service without safety drivers onboard. Passengers can ride in Waymo One's retrofitted Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles in Phoenix and San Francisco after downloading the company's Apple or Android smartphone app and registering.

The app and service work much like the ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft, and in October 2023, Waymo One was added to the Uber network in Phoenix. Waymo One is also preparing to launch its service in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, and is offering what it calls an interest list for potential passengers.

May Mobility

May Mobility's business model is different from other self-driving car companies in that it works with transit agencies, cities, states, and other entities as part of a larger transit network. The company's vehicles, Toyota Sienna minivans outfitted with self-driving technology, operate on fixed routes in geo-fenced areas such as business districts, college campuses, and residential communities, and the rides are mostly free.

Currently, May Mobility operates in seven locations:

• Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Arlington, Texas
• Detroit
• Grand Rapids, Minnesota
• Martinez, California
• Miami
• Sun City, Arizona

May Mobility's self-driving taxis in Sun City, Arizona — a retirement community near Phoenix — were the company's first not to use safety drivers behind the wheel in late 2023.

Cruise

In June 2022, Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, received California's first permit to allow charging a fee for a driverless taxi service. As of September 2022, the company operated around 100 driverless taxis based on the Chevrolet Bolt in San Francisco, with plans to increase the fleet to 5,000 and expand to Phoenix and Austin.

In October 2023, however, the California DMV suspended Cruise's self-driving car permits following an investigation of a pedestrian collision. Cruise halted the majority of its operations following the incident. In mid-2024, Cruise resumed testing in Phoenix, Houston, and Dallas.

Hyundai

Motional

Motional began as a joint venture between Hyundai and automotive supplier Aptiv and first offered rides in Las Vegas on the Lyft network in 2018, using retrofitted BMW 5 Series vehicles. Motional later added robo-taxis based on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV with safety drivers behind the wheel.

In 2023, Motional vehicles became available in Las Vegas via Uber. Motional suspended its service in May 2024 as part of a restructuring plan that included employee layoffs.

Zoox

Amazon-owned Zoox began testing its purpose-built self-driving vehicle that doesn't have a steering wheel or driver's seat on public roads near the company's headquarters in Foster City, California, in February 2023 and in Las Vegas in June 2023.

Zoox also tests its technology on public roads in San Francisco, Miami, Seattle, and Austin. Zoox plans to make its robo-taxis available to the public first in Las Vegas.

This site is for educational purposes only. The third parties listed are not affiliated with Capital One and are solely responsible for their opinions, products and services. Capital One does not provide, endorse or guarantee any third-party product, service, information or recommendation listed above. The information presented in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change. The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product. The material provided on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any Capital One product or service to your unique circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.

Doug Newcomb

Doug Newcomb has been covering the automotive industry for more than three decades and has tested more than 1,000 vehicles. He enjoys using his experience and insight to help people pick the right vehicle and better understand various automotive features and technology, especially as cars have become much more complex. When he's not driving or writing, Doug can usually be found on or near the water in his hometown of Hood River, Oregon.