Denver residents will soon have access to fully autonomous ride-hailing vehicles as Waymo enters the final phase of testing before opening its service to the public, according to company officials.Waymo, the self-driving vehicle company, has been training and testing its technology in Denver since September 2025.Chris Bonelli, Waymo's product communications manager, said the company is now operating vehicles without a human driver behind the wheel as it prepares for a future public launch. Bonelli didn't have an exact date for when the public launch would be.AdvertisementAdvertisement"Certainly, without that driver there, it really changes the dynamic of how people experience the service," Bonelli said.Waymo's testing process began with vehicles driving throughout the city to create detailed 3D maps of Denver streets. The company then moved into testing with safety drivers before advancing to supervised autonomous operations.Bonelli said the vehicles are now fully autonomous."Where the vehicle is in control and there's no expectation of any human interaction of you as the rider, just jump in and enjoy your ride," he said.The vehicles rely on 13 cameras, six radar sensors and four LiDAR sensors, which use lasers to detect objects and surroundings. Bonelli said riders can expect a service area centered in the downtown Denver metro area. The company is not yet offering highway trips or rides to Denver International Airport.AdvertisementAdvertisementWaymo said its technology is designed to handle Colorado's winter conditions.Bonelli said exterior hardware is built to prevent snow and ice buildup and includes dedicated cleaning systems and onboard heaters for sensors."So these are designed in a very certain way to not collect any cavities where ice and snow can build up," Bonelli explained, pointing to exterior cameras.The company tested vehicles during Colorado's winter last year and has also operated in other cold-weather locations."Not only ran testing last year in an unseasonable winter that was warm and light but we have tested in multiple other climates we know we're able to get that rich driving experience," Bonelli said.AdvertisementAdvertisementInside the vehicles, cameras remain on for safety purposes, though Bonelli said they are not constantly monitored. Microphones activate only when riders connect with a support team. In unusual situations, remote personnel can provide assistance."If needed, in more extreme situations, we have a remote support team that can look into the vehicle, give it more information, give it a little assist as needed," Bonelli said.Bonelli acknowledged that some residents may be hesitant about self-driving vehicles but said experience often changes perceptions."It takes a few moments. You see that it sees the pedestrian, you see it pause and yield for the dog that runs across the street and it's the moments of confidence building that is awe inspiring where people begin checking their phone, relaxing and it becomes normal very quickly," he said.AdvertisementAdvertisementBonelli claimed there is already a list of people who signed up and expressed interest in using Waymo. He could not provide numbers for how many people are on the list. He said Waymo plans to establish a lasting presence in Colorado."The mission we drive behind is to be the world's most trusted driver and we're going to earn that trust by being reliable, safe and being accessible to the people we serve," Bonelli added.
