The Alphabet Inc subsidiary is testing complimentary Wi-Fi in its robotaxis in greater Phoenix, where hundreds of the company's identical, driverless minivans have been carrying paying riders since December. In late April, Waymo launched ad-free music streaming for passengers through Google Play Music, its parent company's answer to Spotify and Apple Music.
The city of Chandler, about 20 miles southeast of Phoenix, last month began allowing staffers to expense Waymo rides for work-related trips with an eye to boosting worker productivity.Waymo's challenge is to prove that hospitality and connectivity can generate profits. Waymo currently charges rates comparable to Uber and Lyft, whose reliance on fares has those firms bleeding red ink.
Waymo said its core business is charging for rides, not advertising during them. Providing"personalization" perks creates a sense of freedom, it said."Whether you want to catch up on emails or jam out to some of your favorite tunes using our music integration, we encourage riders to make this space their own," spokeswoman Julianne McGoldrick said.
Whether Wi-Fi proves a big enticement remains to be seen. After all, riders can browse the web on their own smartphones. Workers must document their activities during each Waymo ride. The goal is measuring productivity gains, something Chandler has not tracked with employees traveling via Uber or Lyft, Miranda said.
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