MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA (AZFamily) — Waymo is making major moves with its fleet of Jaguar electric vehicles in Arizona as the company prepares to go international for the first time early next year!
A surprising “Moove”
Earlier this month, Waymo announced it was partnering with Moove, a new fleet partner, to launch service in Miami.
Moove is an African-based mobility and fintech company that offers car financing for gig drivers in developing nations like Nigeria and India. It’s now entering the U.S. market after acquiring hundreds of millions of dollars in investments from Mubadala, BlackRock, and Uber.
“We are excited to partner with Moove in Phoenix and later Miami, bringing together their mobility-focused fleet management experience with our growing Waymo One service,” said Ryan McNamara, Waymo’s vice president of operations. “Together, we will provide safe, seamless trips for riders, and scale faster and more cost-effectively over time, with safety continuing to lead the way.”
While it eyes the Arizona and Florida fleets, it’s unclear if it plans to take over the Californian cities.
Waymo told TechCrunch the two “don’t have plans to launch together” in Los Angeles, but it noted several job listings for the city.
Still, you’ll start seeing those Jaguar I-PACEs making their way through Florida beginning in 2025, but the service won’t launch fully there until 2026.
Waymo says “Konnichiwa” to Japan
Waymo has had resounding success in the metro Phoenix area and in multiple U.S. cities, such as Austin, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Now, it’s crossing the Pacific for a new adventure: Japan!
“Over the years, the Japanese National and Tokyo Metropolitan governments have been proactively working to address the evolving transportation needs of society and foster the adoption of innovative technologies that can enhance safety and mobility,” company officials said in a news release.
Alphabet, Waymo’s parent company, is collaborating with two taxi companies, Nihon Kotsu and GO, to lay the groundwork in a bustling new city.
According to The Verge, like in Phoenix, the cars will be geofenced to cover only certain areas and neighborhoods in Tokyo.
Earlier this year, Waymo announced it provides over 150,000 paid trips and drives over one million miles weekly.
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