Detroit drivers may now pull up next to a car with nobody in the driver's seat. The robotaxi company Waymo began fully driverless driving in the city on Tuesday.

The public cannot ride yet. Rides will go only to Waymo employees at first, spokesman Chris Bonelli told the Detroit Free Press.

"We'll continue driving in the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods like Corktown, Midtown, Hamtramck and Indian Village, as we work to gradually expand across the broader metropolitan area over time," Bonelli said. He said Waymo will serve Detroit riders "when we've properly validated our technology in the city and our local operations are ready."

The shift came fast. Less than a month ago, Waymo said trained specialists still sat behind the wheel in Detroit and fully driverless testing had not begun, the Free Press reported. The company announced last year that it would expand to the city.

Waymo says the move follows months of getting its cars used to the city, working with local officials and talking with residents about how they get around, WDIV ClickOnDetroit reported. "If you spot a Waymo in Detroit without a human driver behind the wheel, there's no need to panic," the station told readers.

Waymo already runs robotaxis in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and Phoenix, where its first paid service began in 2020. Waymo says its cars have driven more than 270 million miles on their own. It says they were in 95% fewer crashes with serious or fatal injuries than human drivers in the same areas. That is the company's own figure.

The record has bumps. Federal safety investigators are looking into a January crash in Santa Monica, California. A Waymo struck a 9-year-old child in a school zone, causing minor injuries. Dozens of Waymos also blocked traffic during Fourth of July crowds in San Francisco.

What we know: Driverless Waymos are now on Detroit streets, carrying only employees.
What we don't: When regular riders can hail one, and what it will cost.