Waymo, a frontrunner in autonomous vehicle innovation and a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (Google), is gearing up for a significant expansion of its services. The company is set to introduce a self-driving taxi service in Washington, D.C., next year, aimed at helping American lawmakers and officials gain insights into autonomous vehicle technology while they navigate the complexities of federal regulatory frameworks.

The landscape of urban transportation is poised for a seismic shift as companies race to harness the potential of autonomous vehicles. In recent developments, the automotive tech sector is abuzz after Uber Technologies Inc. $UBER CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated that Tesla Inc. $TSLA under Elon Musk, has chosen not to make Tesla’s eagerly anticipated robotaxis available on the Uber platform. This decision has sparked a conversation about the future of autonomous ride-hailing.