Waymo is addressing a practical challenge in its autonomous vehicle operations by partnering with DoorDash in a pilot program. Riders occasionally leave doors ajar after exiting, preventing the vehicles from departing. The initiative in Atlanta notifies nearby DoorDash drivers to close the doors for a fee.
Autonomous vehicles promise reliable performance, avoiding human errors like speeding or impairment. Waymo, the leader in this field, operates commercially in six American cities, with expansions to a dozen more and London planned. Its services include airport pickups in Phoenix and San Francisco.
The company is introducing its sixth-generation Waymo Driver in upfitted Zeekr Ojai minivans, alongside Jaguar I-Paces and Hyundai Ioniq 5 models. Enhancements include improved cameras, lidar, and radar for better visibility in low light and bad weather, plus microphones to detect siren directions from emergency vehicles.
Despite these advances, a persistent issue remains: passengers sometimes fail to close doors fully, immobilizing the vehicle. To resolve this, Waymo has collaborated with DoorDash. A DoorDash driver recently shared on Reddit an offer to close a nearby Waymo door for $11.25.
In a joint statement, Waymo and DoorDash explained: “Waymo is currently running a pilot program in Atlanta to enhance its AV fleet efficiency. In the rare event a vehicle door is left ajar, preventing the car from departing, nearby Dashers are notified, allowing Waymo to get its vehicles back on the road quickly. DoorDash is always looking for new and flexible ways for Dashers to earn, and this pilot offers Dashers an opportunity to make the most of their time online. Waymo’s future vehicle platforms will have automated door closures.”
This applies mainly to current I-Pace and Ioniq 5 models. The upcoming Ojai minivans feature sliding doors that are simpler to automate. Waymo plans to test these with employee rides in Los Angeles and San Francisco soon, signaling ongoing integration of human assistance in robotaxi operations.
