Waymo Brings Self-Driving Cars to Minneapolis
Waymo has begun testing autonomous electric vehicles in Minneapolis, marking a major step toward a possible driverless ride-hail service. The test raises big questions about safety, winter performance, worker impact, and the future of transportation in Minnesota.
Minnesota is becoming a testing ground for a technology that could reshape transportation across the country. Waymo, the self-driving taxi company owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, has begun testing autonomous electric vehicles on Minneapolis streets. The cars will not be picking up passengers yet, but their arrival marks the first step toward a possible driverless ride-hail service in the Twin Cities.
For now, fewer than ten vehicles, including Jaguar and Zeekr electric models, will map the city, gather data, and study traffic patterns. Each vehicle will still have a human behind the wheel as Waymo builds a foundation for future operations. The company has not said when Minnesotans might be able to hail a fully autonomous ride.
Testing the Technology in Winter
Waymo chose to arrive in Minneapolis in late November, a decision that sparked questions among residents who know winter driving better than any algorithm. Company officials say that weather is part of the plan. The newest Waymo Driver system has already been tested in snow and ice in parts of Michigan, New York, and California. The system relies on cameras, radar, lidar, and artificial intelligence to make real-time decisions.
In a statement, Waymo said it looks forward to offering Minneapolis a transportation option that is both safe and accessible. If the technology performs well, Minneapolis could become one of the first cold-weather cities to host a driverless ride service. That would be a key test of whether autonomous vehicles can handle Midwestern winters, not just mild climates.
Leaders Show Interest but Call for Care
Waymo’s expansion has attracted interest at the Capitol. Some lawmakers have praised the move as a sign that Minnesota can be a leader in new technology. Minneapolis city officials have taken a more cautious tone, stressing that innovation must work alongside safety and transparency. No agency has confirmed when or if Waymo will receive approval to offer public rides.
Workers Want Answers
The excitement is not shared by everyone. The Minnesota Uber and Lyft Drivers Association, which represents thousands of rideshare workers, many of whom are Black, immigrant, and working-class, warned that driverless taxis could threaten jobs.
MULDA president Eid Ali said drivers deserve clear evidence that the vehicles are safe and that their jobs will not be replaced in the process. He noted that many drivers depend on rideshare income to support their families, often while navigating existing wage inequities. The fear is that high-tech innovation could push workers out of the economy rather than bring them into it.
For drivers who already face obstacles in employment, the arrival of autonomous vehicles has raised concerns about whether the future of transit will create opportunity or erase it.
A National Race Meets a Local Reality
Waymo already operates in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, and the San Francisco Bay Area. It has also announced plans for Detroit, Denver, New Orleans, Tampa, and London. Minnesota is different. Weather alone sets it apart, but so does the state’s transit landscape.
Other autonomous projects are already underway. The goMARTI pilot in north-central Minnesota has tested self-driving vehicles with human drivers for three years. SouthWest Transit in the southwest metro uses autonomous-capable vehicles in its on-demand service, although those vehicles still have drivers. Waymo is aiming for something else entirely: fully driverless service.
What Happens Next
Waymo says it is working with state and city officials to determine next steps. The company has not announced a launch date, and public use may still be months or years away. For now, the test fleet will quietly navigate Minneapolis streets, learning how the city moves, where the challenges lie, and what it means to operate in a community that balances innovation with real-world inequities.
For many Minnesotans, the question is not simply whether the technology can operate safely. It is whether it will serve the people who live here. In a city where drivers fight for fair wages, immigrant workers rely on flexible income, and winter demands respect from even the most seasoned drivers, Waymo’s arrival is more than a tech milestone.
It is a conversation about who benefits from the future that is already pulling up to the curb.