Waymo offers driverless rides to employees in San Francisco, expands in Phoenix

FILE PHOTO: The rear window of a Waymo Chrysler Pacifica robotaxi is seen while parked at a Target store in Tempe, Arizona, U.S., August 31, 2021. REUTERS/Paresh Dave

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc unit Waymo on Wednesday said it has started offering driverless rides to employees in San Francisco, accelerating a race with General Motors Co.-backed rival Cruise to commercialise the technology in the dense city.

Waymo also introduced autonomous rides to employees in downtown Phoenix with safety drivers behind the wheel, with a goal to open it to public testing.