Waymo, the self-driving technology subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has rolled out teen accounts for its autonomous ride-hailing service in Phoenix, Arizona. The move is part of the company’s ongoing effort to broaden its user base and build long-term adoption of self-driving transportation among younger demographics.
The new teen accounts allow families to create personalized ride-hailing profiles for minors, enabling adolescents to use Waymo’s autonomous vehicles with parental oversight. Parents or guardians can monitor ride history, set pickup and drop-off locations, and even receive real-time notifications about their teen’s trip status.
Waymo’s teen account program is currently a pilot in Phoenix, a city where the company has already established one of its most mature and extensive autonomous vehicle networks. The company began offering fully driverless rides to the public in Phoenix as early as 2020 and has since expanded services in other areas, including San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The strategic move to attract younger users reflects Waymo’s broader vision to normalize autonomous vehicles by immersing new generations in the technology from an early age. The initiative also comes amid increasing competition in the autonomous ride-hailing space, with companies like Cruise, Tesla, and Zoox also working to scale their services.
Waymo emphasized that the teen accounts come with robust safety and privacy protections, including verified parental consent and trip management tools. Riders must meet age and local policy requirements, which differ based on jurisdiction.
By targeting younger passengers, Waymo aims not only to increase ridership in the short term but also to foster long-term user loyalty and familiarity with autonomous mobility solutions. If successful, this model could serve as a blueprint for similar expansions in other markets across the United States.
The pilot program’s performance in Phoenix will likely influence Waymo’s strategy for future markets and could play a pivotal role in how families, particularly those with teenagers, incorporate autonomous vehicles into their everyday transportation habits.
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