Waymo is bringing its self-driving minivans to another city, this time to Atlanta.
Google Alphabet's autonomous driving unit announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its testing locations to include metro Atlanta. Waymo said its self-driving Chrysler Pacifica minivans will be heading to the city, but refused to give any further details.
"Atlanta is a major hub for technology and innovation, and a natural fit for Waymo's testing program," the company said in a series of announcements made via Twitter.
Waymo also noted that it plans to further expand its geographic testing after it successfully launched fully driverless test vehicles in Phoenix, Atizona. Outside this city, most of its fleet still has safety drivers at the wheel.
Spokesperson for the company said it has began mapping the Georgia city last week. Being autonomous vehicles, the minivans need an up-to-date and accurate 3D map of every location it is assigned to drive.
The self-driving vehicle's cameras and sensors are heavily reliant on these maps, as well as a vivid render of its environment.
The announcement of the move to Atlanta comes just over a week after Waymo announced its testing launch in San Francisco, California on Jan. 13.
So far, Waymo has tested its autonomous vehicles in 25 states across the U.S. to expose them to a variety of road conditions, environments, and even weather. Most notable of the company's test cites include the dusty neighborhood of Phoenix, the foggy and hilly roads of San Francisco, snowy Michigan, and the rainy roads of Kirkland.
In an official statement, Waymo said it is looking forward to its testing in Atlanta. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal feels the same way. "We are thrilled to welcome Waymo to our state," he said, noting the "tremendous potential" of its self-driving vehicles. "We are proud Georgia is paving the way for the future of transportation."
