Via and Waymo announced a strategic partnership to allow government agencies to leverage Via’s software to introduce Waymo’s fully autonomous ride-hailing service directly into their public transit networks. 

Chandler, Arizona, will be the first city to benefit from this framework, integrating Waymo’s service into the city’s Chandler Flex microtransit service. 

“Public transit riders and the government agencies who serve them are too often the last to have access to cutting-edge technology,” said Daniel Ramot, Via’s co-founder and CEO. “We’re delighted that this partnership with Waymo paves the path for AVs to become accessible to millions of global public transit riders, enhancing mobility, lowering operating costs, and improving safety outcomes.”

The Via, Waymo Partnership

With tens of millions of miles traveled, the data shows that Waymo is making roads safer where it operates, including being involved in 88% fewer injury-causing crashes compared to the average human driver, according to the company.

Meanwhile, leveraging billions of transit-specific data points, Via’s software is purpose-built to enable governments to design and operate more innovative, more efficient, and higher-quality transit networks. 

The deployment in Chandler, launching this fall, will allow users of the City’s Chandler Flex microtransit service to receive rides in Waymo vehicles. 

Chandler Flex leverages Via’s proprietary algorithms, designed to efficiently and dynamically aggregate multiple riders into a single vehicle, to create a flexible mass transit system with routes that adapt to passenger demand in real-time. 

Via’s routing technology will incorporate Waymo’s vehicles into its existing fleet, using Via’s Scheduling Engine to understand passengers’ unique travel requirements and ensure that the right vehicle is matched to every trip. 

Via’s operating software will also enable the City to seamlessly monitor service performance and meet Federal funding, compliance, and accessibility reporting requirements. The partnership between Waymo and Via enables other cities to introduce this same model to their transit networks easily, the companies reported.