Waymo to open 85,000-sq-ft service headquarters near Phoenix

The company is paving the way for a larger fleet of vehicles.

Waymo has announced plans to establish a much bigger technical service center in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa.

The planned space will have 85,000 square feet, more than doubling the company's capacity to service and maintain a growing fleet of self-driving vehicles.

"Our decision to keep expanding here is an easy one," the company explains. "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."

The nearby Chandler full-service center already has 60,000 square feet of space, housing Waymo's fleet support teams.

The announcement highlights the company's eagerness to scale up its operations. Riders will eventually be able to choose from a wide range of vehicles beyond the current fleet of Chrysler Pacifica minivans, including more stylish rides such as the Jaguar i-Pace.