Google Self-Driving Car: The 2010 Videos and Waymo Today

In October 2010 Google announced that its google self-driving car project had been quietly testing modified Toyota Prius cars on California roads. This article looks back at those first videos, explains how the cars worked, and shows what the project became: Waymo, the robotaxi service you can ride in today.

Quick answer: Google’s self-driving car project started testing Toyota Prius cars with trained safety drivers in 2010. In 2016 the project became Waymo, a separate company under Google’s parent Alphabet. Waymo now runs driverless robotaxi rides in several US cities, booked through the Waymo app and, in some cities, through Uber.

The 2010 google self-driving car announcement

Google announced the project on its official blog in October 2010. Its automated Toyota Prius cars, each with a trained operator behind the wheel and an engineer alongside, had already logged over 140,000 miles across California. Google called it a first in robotics research.

The cars combined detailed maps with video cameras, a laser range finder on the roof and radar sensors around the car. Software used all of this to see traffic, pedestrians and road signs and steer the car safely.

Watch the early Google self-driving car videos

Tech blogger Robert Scoble was one of the first to spot, chase and film these cars. His two videos are still on YouTube:

At the time, Google was already mapping the world with Street View cars and even Street View tricycles. If you drove on Highway 1 between San Francisco and Los Angeles, you might have spotted a Prius with a strange spinning cylinder on its roof and a driver sitting back, enjoying the view.

From Google project to Waymo

The project kept growing after 2010:

• 2014: Google showed its own small prototype car and gave the public test rides. We covered the first public test drive of Google’s self-driving car.
• 2016: The project was spun out as Waymo, a separate company under Alphabet.
• 2018: Waymo launched Waymo One, its commercial ride service, in the Phoenix area.

Where you can ride a Waymo in 2026

Waymo has expanded quickly. As of spring 2026, its rides were available in:

• Waymo app: Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Miami and Orlando.
• Uber app: Atlanta and Austin, where Waymo cars are matched to some UberX and Uber Comfort requests.
• Early access: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Nashville, where riders sign up and are invited in waves.

The list changes often, so check the Waymo website or app for the latest cities before you travel.

How to book a ride

1. Install the Waymo app on Android or iPhone (or use Uber in the cities above).
2. Set your pickup and drop-off point, as with any ride-hailing app.
3. When the car arrives, unlock it from the app, take your seat and buckle up.
4. Follow the prompts in the app and the car to start the ride. There is no driver in the front seat.

FAQ

When did Google start testing self-driving cars?

Google revealed its self-driving car tests in October 2010, after its Toyota Prius test cars had already driven over 140,000 miles in California with safety drivers on board.

Is Waymo the same as the Google self-driving car?

Yes. Waymo began as Google’s self-driving car project and became its own company under Alphabet in 2016.

Can anyone ride in a Waymo?

In cities where the service is fully open, anyone can download the Waymo app and book a ride. In early-access cities you need to sign up and wait for an invitation.

Do Waymo cars have a safety driver?

In its public ride service, Waymo cars drive with no one in the driver’s seat. Early test cars, like the 2010 Prius fleet, always had a trained driver.