Waymo One is the world’s first autonomous ride-hailing service that allows users to book autonomous vehicles just like Uber or Lyft. By autonomous, we mean there will be no driver driving the cab. Yes, the cab will be fully self-driven, powered by the AI, it seems like a ghost is driving the vehicle, with utmost accuracy and convenience.
The market for robotaxi apps like Waymo One is getting attention and it is predicted that in the coming years, it will boom exponentially. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global robotaxi market size is estimated to be worth $118.61 billion by the year 2031.
The market is huge, but at present, only a few key players are competing in the particular segment. Among them, Waymo One is leading with a 22% market share in the San Francisco region in the USA.
With a huge growth potential and very little competition in the market, it is a great business opportunity to build an App like Waymo one and get the early-mover advantage.
Therefore, in this blog, we have explained the process of developing an autonomous driving car app similar to Waymo One along with all the information, such as the app’s features, the technology stack required to build the app, challenges and solutions, and more. So, let’s start.
Why is It Necessary to Build An App Like Waymo One?
Before moving forward, let’s first understand why you should invest in autonomous driving car app development similar to Waymo One. The Waymo One is the first self-driven ride-hailing app through which users can book fully autonomous rides. These rides are powered by artificial intelligence, eliminating the need for the drivers.
Since the launch of Waymo One, people have already liked this concept. The app has over 500,000 downloads on the Play Store alone, with 4.9 ratings (at the time of writing). If you develop an app similar to Waymo One, you can not only compete with it but also mark your stance in the self-driving ride-hailing industry, which we have discussed is already growing.
So, without any more delay, let’s jump on to the development process of a self-driving car app Like Waymo One.
Step-by-Step Process to Build an App like Waymo One
By following this process, you can build a custom ride-hailing app like Waymo One.
-
Requirement Gatherings
The first step to building a custom autonomous ride-hailing app similar to Waymo One is to determine the type of app you want to develop. You have options like native app development, such as an Android app or an iOS app, a cross-platform app that functions on all platforms, or a web app.
Next thing is you need to figure out the target users, functionalities of the app, and the development team. You can hire mobile app developers in India, or outsource the project to a leading self-driving taxi booking app development company.
-
Study the Competition
To beat the competition, you need to know your competition. Hence, study the Waymo One app, and other similar apps.
Note down how these apps function, their UI/ UX, features, and most importantly, what value they provide to the users. Also, figure out the weak points of these apps, and this is where you can outdo the competition.
-
Create the Prototypes
After studying the Waymo One and other ride-hailing apps, create the prototypes and wireframes for your app. Sketch rough designs of the tabs, dashboards, icons, user interfaces, and more.
While creating the prototypes, always remember that user satisfaction is the ultimate factor that makes an app a success or failure. So, design the prototypes keeping user-friendliness and easy navigation in mind.
-
Design UI/UX
At this stage, design the user interfaces for your ride-hailing app like Waymo One. Use advanced software and tools like Figma and Adobe Pro to design the interfaces. Also, use colors and textures that remind the users about your brand.
Lastly, use elements in the UI/UX that make the app also easy to use for people with poor vision or disabilities.
-
Develop the App
Here comes the most crucial part of the process, that is, developing the core self-driving car app like Waymo One. Depending on the type of app you are aiming to build, use mobile app development frameworks, and programming languages to code the app.
Also, use an advanced technology stack and third-party APIs to enhance the app’s functionalities. Moreover, integrate cutting-edge technologies like advanced mapping systems, artificial intelligence for dynamic pricing, and IoT (Internet of Things) to connect the app with autonomous vehicles.
-
Testing
Post-development, test your Waymo One-like ride-booking app to ensure that it is functioning as you planned it to work. You must conduct manual and automated testing to identify bugs and glitches in the app and fix them.
Moreover, in order to test the app, you can release its Beta version in a closed environment, in which a few people will use the app and give you their feedback for the app. Based on feedback, you can make relevant changes and the app is ready for release.
-
Deployment
After the testing is done, your self-driving car booking app is ready for public use. You can publish the app on stores like the App Store and Google Play store, from where your users can install the app and use it.
Or, if you have a website, you can also give your users an option to download the app from the website itself.
-
Maintenance and Upgradation
It is crucial to monitor your app’s performance and regularly audit it to ensure that it is working fine. After a few days of launch, most apps have glitches and the same can happen with your app too.
So, monitor the app frequently, fix bugs, and upgrade with new features, app versions, and new UI designs to keep the users engaged and your Waymo One-like app relevant for a long time.
Must-Have Features for the Self-Driving Cab-Booking App Similar to Waymo One
The following are the must-have features that you should add to your autonomous ride-booking app similar to Waymo One. We have divided the features into two categories: For the Users App and for the Admin App.
For the Users App
Easy Registration & Login
This feature will allow users to create their account by filling up details like name, phone number, and email. Users can log in to the app using the same feature by entering a username and password.
Ride Booking Interface
After logging in, the users will see the ride-booking interface where they will find a map showing nearby autonomous vehicles available. To book a ride, users need to choose the pick-up point, drop location, stops (if any), vehicle type, and the option to make payments.
Real-Time Tracking
This feature will allow users to track their AI-powered vehicles live on the map. Users can also see the vehicle’s ETA and the route it will take to reach the destination.
Ride Scheduling
With this feature, users can book a ride in advance by entering pick-up and drop locations, and the time of the ride.
Payment Integration
This feature allows users to make payments for their rides using multiple options, such as via net banking, cards, digital wallets, and even cryptocurrencies.
Safety Features
This feature has an emergency SOS button, real-time vehicle tracking, and ride-sharing details to provide users with enhanced security when using autonomous cabs.
In-App Support
Using this feature, users can contact the customer support team and address ride-related queries or technical issues from the app itself.
Ride Feedback & Ratings
Users can share their journey experiences and rate the ride which can help in improving the service quality.
For the Admin App
Fleet Management Dashboard
This feature allows the admin team to monitor and track autonomous vehicles in real-time. With this feature, they can track rides’ statuses, routes, and operational performance.
User Management
This feature allows the admin to manage users’ accounts, their ride history, and queries or complaints.
AI-Driven Analytics
This feature helps the admin to analyze ride patterns, user preferences, and vehicle efficiency to make data-driven decisions.
Dynamic Pricing Control
This AI-powered feature can dynamically set the prices of the rides based on demand, traffic, availability, and other factors.
Vehicle Maintenance Tracking
With the help of IoT technology, the admin can connect the vehicles with the app, and get automated alerts for vehicle servicing, software updates, and performance checks for uninterrupted service.
Geo-Fencing Management
This feature helps the admin team to define operational boundaries for autonomous taxis, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
Payment & Revenue Tracking
With the help of this feature, the admin can access detailed reports on earnings, transactions, and driverless ride costs.
Promotions & Campaigns Management
With this feature, the admin team can launch marketing campaigns, discount offers, or loyalty programs to attract and retain users.
So, these are the top features for an autonomous cab-booking app development.
Technology Stack to Build an App Like Waymo One
Below is the tech stack that you can leverage to design and develop an app similar to Waymo One.
| Component | Technology Stack | Purpose |
| Front-End Development | React Native / Flutter | Cross-platform frameworks for building user-friendly and responsive mobile apps. |
| HTML, CSS, JavaScript | For designing and developing a responsive and interactive web-based interface for the app. | |
| Back-End Development | Node.js / Django / Ruby on Rails | Frameworks for handling server-side logic, API development, and business processes. |
| Database Management | PostgreSQL / MongoDB / MySQL | Databases to store user profiles, ride history, payment details, and vehicle data securely and efficiently. |
| Cloud Infrastructure | AWS / Google Cloud / Azure | Scalable cloud solutions for hosting the app, managing data, and ensuring high availability and security. |
| Real-Time Navigation | Google Maps API / Mapbox | To provide accurate route mapping, live traffic updates, and location-based services. |
| Communication Protocols | MQTT / WebSocket | Enable real-time communication between vehicles, the server, and the user app. |
| Payment Integration | Stripe / PayPal / Razorpay | Secure payment gateways to process transactions and manage user payments. |
| Push Notifications | Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) / OneSignal | For sending real-time updates, alerts, and promotional notifications to users. |
| Authentication | OAuth 2.0 / Firebase Auth | Secure login, registration, and user identity verification processes. |
| DevOps & Monitoring | Docker / Kubernetes | For containerization and managing scalable deployments of app services. |
| Prometheus / New Relic | Tools for monitoring application performance, diagnosing issues, and ensuring optimal functionality. | |
| Testing | Selenium / Appium | Automated testing frameworks for ensuring the app’s performance and reliability across platforms. |
| AI & Analytics | Apache Kafka / Google BigQuery | Tools for processing large volumes of data and deriving actionable insights for improving app features and operations. |
This is the recommended technology stack. You can also use other tools and technologies that align with your specific requirements.
Cost of Developing a Self-Driving Car App Similar to Waymo One
The cost of building a custom self-driving car booking app similar to Waymo One depends on various factors like the following:
- Complexity of the app
- UI/UX designs
- Features and functionalities
- Technology Stack
- Emerging technologies
- Development team location and size
- Testing
- Post-launch maintenance, and many others.
However, to give you a rough idea, the app development cost for a simple autonomous cab-booking app with basic features would be around $30,000 to over $45,000, or more. If you go for the moderate-level app, the cost would be approximately $50,000 to over $80,000, or more.
And if you develop a complex self-driving car booking app with high-end features and functionalities, it would cost you around $70,000 to over $150,000, or even more.
Conclusion
Autonomous taxis are winning the hearts of the people who are looking for an innovative way to travel. Apps like Waymo One allow such people to book these self-driving cabs and enjoy their rides.
By developing a custom self-driving cab-booking app like Waymo One, you can cater to interested people, and by moving strategically, you can outdo Waymo One and other competitors in the market.
This is why, we provided a strategic roadmap to build an app like Waymo One and create your place in the self-driving ride-hailing industry. Moreover, if you are looking for experts to build your app, feel free to reach out to Developer Bazaar Technologies.
We are the top autonomous taxi-booking app development company in India that has 8+ years of experience in developing taxi-booking apps and platforms for clients doing their business in different parts of the world. To contact us, click here.
FAQs
Q1. Is it a great idea to develop an autonomous taxi-booking app?
Yes, the world is shifting towards self-driving cars and in the coming years, driver-driven cabs will be replaced by autonomous cabs. So, it is a great idea to move early and build a custom autonomous taxi-booking app.
Q2. Should I hire developers or outsource the self-driving taxi-booking app project?
The decision completely depends on your project requirements and budget. Talk to our experts to know more about this.
Q3. How long would it take to build an app like Waymo One?
The exact time depends on project complexities and other factors. To give an estimation, it will take around 3-5 months, or more, to build an app like Waymo One.
Q4. Does Developer Bazaar build custom autonomous cab-booking apps?
Yes, Developer Bazaar Technologies develop custom autonomous cab-booking apps tailored to client’s specific requirements.
Q5. Does Developer Bazaar sign an NDA?
As a trusted app development company in India, Developer Bazaar Technologies takes all the necessary steps to protect intellectual property rights, including signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
