Waymo Has Not Set a Timeline for Driverless Rides in Philly After More Than a Year of Testing – 92.5 XTU

Waymo Has Not Set a Timeline for Driverless Rides in Philly After More Than a Year of Testing  92.5 XTU

It's become a common sight in Philadelphia over the last year. Autonomous vehicles have been spotted around the city, and the company has been mapping Philly's streets since 2025.The company hasn't launched commercial operations in the city yet, and it isn't allowed to operate its vehicles without a physical driver behind the wheel.But is the company bending the rules? One woman reported what she thought was a driverless Waymo vehicle on Sept. 22 at 26th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, triggering internal reviews by Waymo and PennDOT.The PhillyVoice obtained a photo of the vehicle from the woman and shared it with Waymo.“No Waymo vehicles are operating without a trained specialist behind the wheel in Philadelphia,” Waymo spokesperson Ethan Teicher told the PhillyVoice after reviewing the photo.“The vehicles are not yet configured for fully autonomous driving in Philadelphia.

As to why it looks that way, it could be a combination of the seating position, window tint, and lighting, alongside the expectation that these vehicles will be fully autonomous in the future,” Teicher further explained to the PhillyVoice.Waymo has licensed operations in multiple cities and is expanding. However, its timelines for driverless service in Philadelphia remain unclear as local leaders weigh safety, jobs, and economic impacts.The PhillyVoice noted that Waymo has refused to answer questions about its anticipated rollout in Philadelphia. Waymo has