Waymo’s robotaxi service expands into Los Angeles, starting free rides in parts of the city

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Robotaxis are hitting the streets of Los Angeles. Google spinoff Waymo says on Thursday it will begin offering free rides to some of the roughly 50,000 people who have signed up for its driverless ride-hailing service in the second largest U.S. city. Waymo is expanding into Los Angeles seven months after California regulators authorized its robotaxis to begin charging for around-the-clock rides throughout San Francisco over the objections of local officials who asserted the driverless vehicles posed an unacceptable risk to public safety. Although Waymo isn’t charging for rides in Los Angeles to start, the company plans to eventually collect fares there, too.