Waymo’s new car can actually handle heavy snow conditions, and the costs have even come down—will autonomous ride-hailing really be rolled out to the mainstream?

Waymo officially opens the Ojai new autonomous taxi service to some users. This new vehicle is better suited for snowy environments and has lower manufacturing costs than the company's previous models. Waymo announced on Thursday that some ordinary residents in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix can now experience this model; this summer, the service will also expand to San Diego, Las Vegas, and Denver. This new vehicle made its first public debut in 2024 and was initially available to internal employees and visitors in San Francisco and Los Angeles in February. (Sina Finance)