Austin was chosen by Waymo due to its history of hosting the first prototype driverless car in 2015, using Waymo’s retired Firefly prototype vehicle. The fifth-generation system used now has undergone refinements and adjustments over the past seven years. Additionally, Texas state law passed in 2017 prevents cities from regulating self-driving cars, making it a prime location for autonomous vehicle testing. Other companies such as Ford and Cruise are also testing their driverless systems in Austin.
