Waymo, Google's self-driving car project, offers to carry shoppers to Walmart Inc’s stores in Phoenix, Arizona, according to the company statement. The service is initially available to about 400 participants in Waymo's early-rider program within a 100-square-mile section of Phoenix.

United States: Waymo is starting trials to carry shoppers to Walmart Inc’s stores in Phoenix, Arizona, according to the company statement. Walmart shoppers in Phoenix metropolitan area can order groceries on Walmart.com and while the order is being processed at the store, the self-driving cars will transport them to the store and bring them back.

Additionally, Waymo has also prolonged its partnerships with AutoNation Inc and Avis Budget Group Inc in Phoenix. AutoNation is likely to offer its customers a Waymo, rather than a loaned car, to get around while their personal vehicles get serviced.

According to the company, even though these are metro Phoenix-specific partnerships, the businesses are national, and will serve as a learning from these programs will give us a network of partners when we launch in new cities down the road," Waymo said in a blog post.

The service is initially available to about 400 participants in Waymo's early-rider program within a 100-square-mile section of Phoenix. The company that started in 2009 as Google's self-driving car project will also give people rides while their cars are serviced at area AutoNation repair shops, along with lifts to restaurants and shops in the Ahwatukee Foothills Town Center.

Waymo has also teamed up with U.S. shopping center owner DDR Corp to offer shoppers and diners rides in its self-driving vehicles to and from the Ahwatukee Foothills Towne Center in Chandler, Arizona.

Avis Budget Group, which keeps Waymo vehicles charged and refueled for an upcoming ride, will provide its customers these self-driving vehicles as a last-mile solution to help them pick up or drop off their rental cars.

Having worked on self-driving cars since 2009 and with 5 million miles (8 million km) driven on public roads under its belt, Waymo is generally considered to be ahead of rivals in the development of autonomous vehicle technology.

Global automakers, suppliers and tech companies like Waymo and Uber Technologies Inc are pouring resources into the development of autonomous driving systems and launching networks of test fleets aimed at pushing the technology forward.

The complex challenges of self-driving and the high costs of research and development has led to a host of partnerships between automakers, suppliers and others.

According to TechSci Research, the move will open enormous potential for the autonomous vehicles and mobility on demand market globally, despite having a few hiccups. TechSci Research predicts that the growing focus of leading automotive and technology companies on autonomous vehicle technologies coupled with favorable government policies and rising concerns regarding safe driving will drive the global semi & fully autonomous vehicle market in the coming years. Over the last few years, increasing demand for alternate transportation means for controlling air pollution levels across the globe along with providing better transportation services through a reliable and fast mobile platform are aiding global mobility on demand market.

According to the recently published report by TechSci Research, “Global Semi & Fully Autonomous Vehicle Market, By Automation Level (Level 0, Level 1 & Others), By Component (Embedded Systems, Cameras & Others), By Vehicle Type, By Region, Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2016–2030”, Global semi & fully autonomous vehicle market is projected to exhibit a CAGR of over 21% to reach $ 64 billion by 2030. Growing focus of automotive OEMs on enhancing safety features and increasing government support for developing driverless vehicles are the major factors anticipated to aid the growth of global semi & fully autonomous vehicle market during the forecast period. Moreover, foray of technology giants such as Google and Intel, among others, in autonomous vehicle market is further encouraging adoption of autonomous vehicles, thereby positively influencing the global semi & fully autonomous vehicle market.

According to the recently published report by TechSci Research, “Global Mobility on Demand Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2022”, Global mobility on demand market is expected to cross $ 228 billion by 2022, on account of growing traffic congestions, continuous initiatives being taken by several vehicles manufacturing players and increasing inclination of consumers. Asia-Pacific region accounted for the largest share in global mobility on demand market in 2016; and China and Japan registered more than half of the demand for mobility on demand services in the region in the same year. Moreover, the region is anticipated to maintain its dominance in global mobility on demand market during the forecast period as well.