Waymo robotaxis have become a common sight on Los Angeles surface streets. Now those driverless vehicles are heading to the city's network of freeways.

Waymo posted on X today that it has opened fully autonomous rides on LA freeways to its employees. The company noted that this is a preliminary step toward bringing its vehicle fleet onto highways for all passengers in the city.

The California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo's autonomous vehicle program in Los Angeles in March 2024. The service was expanded to the public in November. Aside from Los Angeles, the company also has driverless cars in San Francisco and Phoenix, with plans to expand to Austin, Atlanta and Miami.

It’s a big move for the robotaxi company, especially if they want to cut down on trip times amid competition with Uber and other human-powered services. The company said that a 17 mile trip from Santa Monica Pier to the Broad museum utilizing Interstate 10 would be 50 percent faster than local roads.

Waymo’s driverless vehicles, already a common sight on LA’s surface streets, will now navigate the complex network of freeways, including Interstates 10, 110, 405, and 90. These tests will initially be limited to Waymo employees, who will provide feedback on the service before it is opened to the public.

The self-driving taxi company Waymo launched in Los Angeles in November, bringing roughly 100 autonomous vehicles to neighborhoods from Santa Monica to West Hollywood.