Alphabet's Waymo is expanding its autonomous ride-hailing service areas in San Francisco and Los Angeles to cater to growing demand from customers, the company said on Tuesday. The expansion reflects the increasing competition and investment in the field of driverless cars.

Waymo One service areas will now encompass additional locations, including Daly City, Broadmoor, and Colma on the San Francisco Peninsula, though it still cannot take passengers on 101 or to SFO airport. In Los Angeles, the extended service will cover Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Playa Vista, and parts of Hollywood, Chinatown, and Westwood.

Waymo ended its waiting lists in San Francisco last month, effectively opening its Waymo One service to all residents, echoing a similar move in Phoenix, Arizona, about four years ago. This significant milestone marks Waymo's continuous commitment to broadening the reach of its autonomous services.

The announcement, however, comes amidst intense competition from other industry giants. For instance, General Motors' Cruise and Amazon's Zoox are also pouring substantial resources into developing their own driverless technologies. Two weeks ago, TechCrunch reported Alphabet plans to boost Waymo’s expansion further with a $5 billion investment over a multi-year period, a strategy outlined by finance chief Ruth Porat.

In an earlier report here on Hoodline SF, it was noted that approximately 300,000 people had previously signed up on a waitlist to participate in Waymo's San Francisco service. All of those are now welcome to book rides through the Waymo app, signifying a new era for driverless transportation in the city.

However, regulatory scrutiny persists due to several safety concerns. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently raised alarms about additional incidents involving Waymo's self-driving vehicles, noted in a report by ABC7. Despite these challenges, Waymo continues to maintain an optimistic perspective, assuring its commitment to safety as it progresses.

Meanwhile, Waymo's competitors are also making strides in the autonomous driving industry. Uber reported a sixfold increase in trips using self-driving vehicles, aided by partnerships with companies like Waymo. Similarly, Tesla’s focus remains on advancing artificial intelligence, autonomous driving software, and even robotaxis, aiming to counteract a slowdown in electric vehicle sales.

Despite its rapid advancement, Waymo's autonomous technology hasn't been without issues. Earlier this year for example, a Waymo vehicle was seen violating traffic rules on Van Ness, raising questions about the readiness of driverless technology for public roads. Public perception of the vehicles hasn't been all positive, either. One particularly egrigious case of Waymo hate includes an incident in which an individual firebombed a Waymo in San Francisco's Chinatown in February. Moreover, a federal investigation has been launched into crashes involving Waymo vehicles, adding another layer to the scrutiny faced by the self-driving unit.

Despite these trials, Waymo remains an industry leader, continually expanding its footprint and pushing the boundaries of autonomous driving technology. As the company gears up to extend its services further in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the coming months will be closely watched by both advocates and critics of the future of driverless cars.

Editor's Note: Additional background information and context was added by a secondary writer and editor.