Waymo to hire hundreds for service center opening in Mesa

PHOENIX – Self-driving tech developer Waymo announced Tuesday it would open a service center in Mesa and expected to hire hundreds in the coming years.

The 85,000-square-foot technical service center will join a 60,000-square-foot operations center in Chandler as East Valley hubs for the autonomous-vehicle program.

“Mesa is thrilled to welcome Waymo to our city,” Mayor John Giles said in a statement.

Dezbah Hatathli with Waymo told KTAR News 92.3 FM that the new center will serve as another dispatch location for the Waymo One ride-hailing service.

Hatathli declined to say how many jobs the center is expected to bring, but a company statement said it expects “to create hundreds of new jobs at this new facility over time.”

The Google spinoff launched its early rider program in the East Valley in April 2017 and debuted its ride-hailing service in December 2018.

The center near Dobson and Broadway roads should be open in a few months and will include fleet maintenance and service.

The Chandler site, which opened near Chandler Boulevard and 56th Street in 2016, was doubled in size last year. It is home to rider support, fleet technicians and dispatch.

“Our decision to keep expanding here is an easy one,” the company said in a statement.

“Metro Phoenix offers everything we need to continue building safe and reliable self-driving technology: a large area with broad, yet complex, city streets; a wide-spread suburban population that relies heavily on vehicle transport; and of course, lots of gorgeous sunny days for driving while we also invest in further weather testing.”

About 400 volunteers participate as early riders. More than 20,000 applied.

Their feedback helped Waymo’s planning of the ride-hailing service.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Madison Spence contributed to this report. 

 

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