Waymo Brings Autonomous Vehicles to Minneapolis: What You Need to Know
Minneapolis is officially joining the list of cities where driverless vehicles are hitting real streets. Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet, announced that its next expansion includes the Twin Cities. This marks one of the biggest tech rollouts we’ve seen in Minnesota transportation in years.
Waymo’s Fleet Arrives in Minneapolis
Waymo will deploy a fleet of electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles to start mapping and learning Minneapolis roads. The rollout follows the same phased approach the company used in other cities. First comes human-driven route mapping. Next is autonomous testing. After that, the public can start requesting rides.
The company is already operating fully driverless rides in places like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Minneapolis will eventually join that list if everything goes smoothly.
Preparing for Minnesota Weather
One of the biggest questions with autonomous vehicles is how well they can handle winter driving. Waymo has been testing in cold-weather regions like Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, California’s Sierra Nevada, and Upstate New York. These areas offer a mix of snow, ice, slush, and extreme temperature swings — conditions Minnesotans know well.
Waymo’s fifth-generation Waymo Driver system is built to navigate challenging environments. It uses a combination of lidar, radar, cameras, and onboard AI to detect hazards and make driving decisions.
A Bipartisan Welcome at the Capitol
It’s rare to see bipartisan alignment in Minnesota politics, but both DFL and Republican co-chairs of the Minnesota House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee publicly supported Waymo’s Minneapolis launch. Their endorsements highlight a shared interest in next-generation transportation and potential economic growth from tech investment in the region.
What This Means for the Twin Cities
Autonomous vehicles aren’t just a novelty. They could influence transit, accessibility, traffic patterns, and even real estate decisions. New technology attracts new residents and businesses, especially in urban areas like Minneapolis. As more tech companies choose the Twin Cities, it strengthens the region’s long-term competitiveness.
If you live or work in Minneapolis, you’ll likely see Waymo vehicles driving around the city as they start mapping routes. Eventually, the option for driverless rides could change how people move around downtown, university areas, and neighborhoods near major corridors.
Looking Ahead
Waymo’s arrival puts Minneapolis on the map as a national testing ground for emerging transportation. Whether you’re excited, unsure, or somewhere in the middle, this rollout will be worth watching.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling in the Twin Cities as the area continues to grow and evolve, I’m here to help you make confident decisions.
