Publications
Publications
- March 2019
- HBS Case Collection
Waymo LLC
By: John R. Wells and Benjamin Weinstock
Abstract
On December 5, 2018, Waymo LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., launched the United States’ first commercial driverless-car ride-hailing service (Waymo One), based in Phoenix, Arizona. As with other ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, Waymo One riders downloaded an app onto their smartphones that allowed them to request pick-up and drop-off points. At launch, Waymo One was limited to an area of roughly 100 square miles, but few doubted that the service would soon be extended to more geographies. When asked where it would be launched next, CEO John Krafcik commented, “We’re going to grow and be paced by the level of safety that the technology provides in each of the environments that we serve.” Just how fast that pace would be was driven by a whole host of regulatory, technological, and competitive uncertainties. There was also the question of the ultimate role Waymo might play in the autonomous vehicle world. What should Waymo be aiming for?
Keywords
Vehicle; Automation; Automobiles; Automotive; Driverless Car; Automotive Industry; Autonomy; Google; Self-driving Cars; Technological And Scientific Innovation; Technological Change; Technology Change; Ride-sharing; Uber; Lyft; General Motors; Innovation; Disruptive Technology; Disruptive Technologies; Tesla; Waymo; Operating Systems; Artificial Intelligence; Autonomous Vehicles; Transportation; Technological Innovation; Disruption; Commercialization; Growth And Development Strategy; Transportation Industry; Auto Industry
Citation
Wells, John R., and Benjamin Weinstock. "Waymo LLC." Harvard Business School Case 719-477, March 2019.
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