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Englishعربي
Waymo is rolling out a new $30-a-month invite-only membership for its robotaxi riders, offering priority pickups, ride credits and other perks aimed at keeping its most frequent users inside the Waymo ecosystem, according to Bloomberg and TechCrunch. The program, called Waymo Premier, is being marketed to commuters and other heavy riders who rely on the service most.
According to Bloomberg, the membership includes priority pickups, 10% cash back on every trip in the form of ride credits, early access to Waymo in new cities, and up to five free cancellations per month. TechCrunch reported that the monthly fee is $29.99, and Bloomberg said the program is being offered on an invite-only basis.
Waymo said the plan is “built for those who rely on us most,” while declining to share the exact criteria used to decide who qualifies, Bloomberg reported. The company is initially sending app and email invitations to tens of thousands of riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, and it plans to expand the program to additional cities where the Waymo app is available.
The launch gives Waymo a way to reward loyal customers while also adding a new revenue stream as it scales up its autonomous ride-hailing business. Bloomberg reported that the company’s weekly paid rides have grown to roughly 500,000 across 10 U.S. cities, underscoring the scale of the service as it broadens beyond its original markets.
The economics of the membership appear designed for frequent users. Bloomberg’s calculations suggest a rider would need to take about four rides a week to break even on the monthly fee, assuming the standard 10% cash-back rate. The company also indicated that rewards could be higher during busy periods, which may make the membership more appealing for regular commuters and riders in high-demand times.
For riders, the new program could mean shorter waits and more predictable access to Waymo vehicles. For Waymo, it reflects a broader push in autonomous ride-hailing to build loyalty among heavy users while making the service more commercially durable as it expands.