During a recent all-hands meeting, Waymo’s chief winter weather expert laid it out for all the company’s engineers and product managers: if Waymo wants to expand to new cities and new markets, it’s robotaxis will need to be able to confidently and safely handle the snow.
In its first few years of operation, Waymo has strategically stuck to cities with warmer, drier climates – places like Phoenix, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin. But as it eyes a slate of East Coast cities, including Boston, New York City, and Washington, DC, for the next phase of its expansion, its abilities to handle more adverse weather will become a crucial test.
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