By Elias Schisgall


Waymo is starting an invite-only membership program that grants priority pickups and early access to robotaxi launches in new cities.

The Waymo Premier program will cost $29.99 a month and is intended "for those who rely on us most," the Alphabet-owned robotaxi company said Thursday. It is being launched first in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix.

Members of the program will also earn at least 10% Waymo Cash back on their trips and receive five free cancellations a month, the company said.

"You spoke, and we listened to how we can offer an even more elevated experience for you, our top riders," the company said.

The membership program comes as Waymo is scaling its robotaxis across the U.S., with a recent rollout in Miami and planned launches in Minneapolis, New Orleans, Tampa, Fla., and several other cities.

It is competing for the burgeoning robotaxi market with Tesla and a host of smaller companies, many of whom have partnerships with Uber.


Write to Elias Schisgall at elias.schisgall@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-11-26 1247ET