Waymo One
The first paid ride service on autonomous vehicles began operating in the suburbs of Phoenix.
Why it matters
Autonomous driving became a service people pay for rather than a demonstration.
At first a supervisor stayed in the car and the coverage area was limited to a few suburbs with simple markings and little rain. Fully driverless rides for the public began in 2020. The caution proved justified: competitors who moved faster ran into incidents and suspended operations. Expansion to other cities took another five years.