Waymo launches autonomous ride services in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa.

      Waymo has launched driverless ride services in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, with Denver being its first city to experience significant snowfall. According to EU regulations, the weather conditions that an automated driving system can operate in are part of its officially approved operational design domain, and the vehicle is required to execute a minimum risk maneuver when it reaches the limits of that domain.

      The difference in snowfall between cities is notable; on average, Denver receives about 56 inches of snow annually, while Nashville, Waymo's coldest city to date, receives less than five inches. The 30-year average for snowfall at Denver's airport is somewhat lower, at 47 inches.

      Waymo has not clarified if its vehicles will operate during snow conditions. The company has stated that the cars are programmed to safely stop when driving conditions worsen, similar to how a motorcyclist might take cover under an overpass.

      However, it seems progress is being made toward that capability, as Waymo has conducted tests in Novi, Michigan, and Buffalo, while also announcing plans for a service in Detroit. A proposed initiative in New York was halted due to local regulations.

      The situation shifts when looking beyond the U.S. – Waymo is set to begin mapping Munich this autumn for a service slated for late 2027. Bavaria experiences winters, unlike any of the areas currently represented on Waymo's map.

      In Europe, weather conditions are not left to the company’s discretion; they are defined in Regulation (EU) 2022/1426, which governs the type approval of automated driving systems. Article 2(16) specifies the operational design domain as the range of conditions a system is engineered to navigate, explicitly mentioning environmental limitations.

      Exiting these prescribed conditions is not an improvised decision. Annex II mandates that the system must execute a minimum risk maneuver and achieve a minimal risk condition at the established boundary.

      The scale of operations is also limited; Germany’s type approval authority has set a maximum limit of 1,500 units per year for fully automated vehicles produced in small series across the EU. Conversely, Waymo reports conducting hundreds of thousands of commercial rides weekly.

      Europe recognizes that the regulatory framework is a significant challenge. In June, eighteen transport ministers signed a declaration advocating for cross-border testing, and TNW has outlined the current status of robotaxi services.

      Thus, the two continents are confronting different issues: in Denver, the focus is whether the software can manage snow, whereas in Munich, the critical question is who will authorize the response to that issue.

      The latter is taking longer to address. While Zagreb has seen Europe’s first commercial robotaxi launch, there has yet to be any regulatory approval that considers the challenges of a Bavarian winter.