James May takes the fully driverless Waymo car out for a spin in California to get new jeans at Target
- James May is used to weird car journeys, and this is one of the greats
- He decided to take a driverless Robotaxi to Target to buy some jeans
- It was a very mixed bag of emotions when it came to the experience
Published on Apr 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Apr 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
We all know that James May is no stranger to concept cars, but now he’s decided to take a fully driverless car out for a spin in California.
Needing to purchase some jeans, car enthusiast James May wanted to make the most of a new taxi experience in LA: the Waymo driverless Robotaxi.
Accompanied by his friend and camera operator, Lucy, both riders were convinced they had to try taking a fully driverless car.
And the UK car legend was impressed with the way it handled.
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James May is no stranger to weird and wonderful cars
Car celebrity James May treated himself and his friend Lucy to a fully driverless car experience on a trip to Target, and he documented the experience on YouTube.
We all know that May has seen some wacky cars in his life and has even had an experience in a self-driving car before.
“I’ve been in a few autonomous cars before. I went in one made by Mercedes quite a long time ago, and that was pretty good,” he said in the video.
“[The Mercedes] had a steering wheel and a person who could intervene,” he explained.
However, using the LA Robotaxi service, Waymo is a bit more advanced than that, and is fully self-driving, so there’s no need for a wheel or backup driver.
James and Lucy, his friend and camera operator, were excited to try the journey without human intervention.
For an experienced driver and car reviewer, it must have been extremely interesting.
The fully driverless car experience
James and Lucy jumped in the Robotaxi for a journey to Target, on a quest for jeans. Here’s the thing: James had never been to a Target before, so it was a day of firsts.
They ordered their Robotaxi via the app, and after a short wait, the car appeared and the pair jumped in the back.
On the way to the department store, James became increasingly impressed by how smoothly their Robotaxi integrated with normal traffic.
Waymo is similar in pricing to Uber.
It also eliminates the need for a designated driver on a night out, which is a definite positive to the whole experience.
During the video, the steering wheel is clearly visible, turning by itself, in a clear vision of the future.
It merges well, understand the lights, and gets the pair to the store in one piece.
All in all, James and Lucy were in the vehicle for around 20 mins, kicking back and chatting while the Robotaxi did all the work.
And if you’re wondering, yes, he did manage to get some jeans.
That’s a successful test if you ask us!
Daisy is a technology and automotive journalist covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, emerging technologies, and transportation innovation. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral car stories and the latest developments shaping transportation and the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex topics into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work spans cutting-edge technology, innovative vehicles, and the people driving change across both industries. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
