Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, has announced plans to expand its testing to 10 new cities in 2025, with Las Vegas and San Diego being the first two cities to host the self-driving cars. This move is part of the company's efforts to improve the generalizability of its autonomous system, allowing it to adapt to new locales with varying weather conditions and regional driving habits.

The testing operations, which will involve manually driven vehicles, are not necessarily a precursor to the launch of a commercial robotaxi service. Instead, Waymo views these "road trips" as an opportunity to challenge its self-driving system and gather valuable data on how well it performs in new environments. According to Nick Rose, product manager for Waymo's expansion efforts, the company is looking for places that will push its system to its limits, such as Las Vegas, which is known for its dense traffic and chaotic drop-off zones.

Las Vegas has already attracted several autonomous vehicle operators, including Amazon's Zoox, which plans to launch a public rideshare service later this year. Waymo's testing in the city will focus on its ability to navigate the unique challenges of the Las Vegas streets, including Botts' dots instead of painted lane lines and a complex street layout. In contrast, San Diego is similar to the cities where Waymo already operates, and the company wants to validate that its system performs well in the city without requiring extensive prior driving information.

This year's testing is focused on the theme of "generalizability," with Waymo aiming to get to a point where it can bring its vehicles to a new city and launch a robotaxi service with minimal testing. The company wants to ensure that its vehicles can adapt to new cities and environments without requiring significant retraining or adjustments. One example of this is the way Waymo's vehicles perceive emergency vehicles, which can look subtly different from city to city.

Waymo plans to send less than 10 vehicles to each city, where they will be manually driven around for a couple of months. The vehicles will focus on busy commercial districts, which are the areas where Waymo robotaxis are most likely to operate. The company is reaching out to officials in each of the cities where it plans to test vehicles, but has not disclosed the names of the additional cities or the number of miles it aims to cover in each.

Waymo's expansion efforts come as the company prepares to launch robotaxi operations in Austin, Atlanta, and Miami in the near future. Last year, Waymo sent vehicles to various locations, including Truckee, California, upstate New York, and Michigan, to test its robot cars in winter weather conditions. With its sights set on improving generalizability, Waymo is taking a significant step towards making its autonomous vehicles a reality on roads across the United States.

The implications of Waymo's testing expansion are significant, as it brings the company closer to achieving its goal of widespread autonomous vehicle adoption. As the technology continues to advance, it is likely to have a profound impact on the transportation industry, with potential benefits including improved safety, increased mobility, and reduced traffic congestion. With Waymo at the forefront of autonomous vehicle development, its testing expansion is a key milestone in the journey towards a self-driving future.