They've actually been pretty transparent about the system's limitations. Check out Waymo's application to conduct driverless testing in California: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oZ9zwmpfzZvuGVX7MeUGvUSW6Vq... Specifically the section on the vehicles' intended operational design domain.
The cars will operate 24/7, in a small, well-defined section of metro California. They can handle light rain, but won't work in heavy rain, snow, flooded roads, or one-way mountain roadways.
Though that document also says that they won't be charging passengers, so I guess it's a little out of date.
Interesting! Thanks. That's from Feb 2017, I see. I'm not sure I'd call "burying key information in one required regulatory filing" pretty transparent, but I suppose people differ on this.
Different parts of that PDF are from different dates. Not sure which part you're seeing from 2017, but the Application for Manufacturer's Testing Permit is dated October 11, 2018.
I suspect your perception of how transparent they're being might differ depending on where you're located; Waymo's disclosures so far have been mostly in the form of communication directly with the communities they're testing in; not as blog posts or press releases to national media. That document, for example, contains copies of emails that Waymo sent directly to city officials in the places where they planned to start testing.
The cars will operate 24/7, in a small, well-defined section of metro California. They can handle light rain, but won't work in heavy rain, snow, flooded roads, or one-way mountain roadways.
Though that document also says that they won't be charging passengers, so I guess it's a little out of date.