Waymo Expands Robotaxi Services to Three New Cities

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Alphabet, has announced the expansion of its robotaxi services into three new cities: Detroit, Las Vegas, and San Diego. This strategic move marks a significant step in Waymo’s evolution from a developer of autonomous technology to a full-fledged commercial enterprise.

Expansion Details

Waymo’s announcement follows recent comments by co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, made during the TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 event. Mawakana emphasized the company’s goal of scaling its services, projecting that Waymo will facilitate over 1 million trips per week by the end of 2026.

Current Operations

• Waymo is currently providing over 250,000 rides weekly.
• Previous services launched include Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles.
• Last year, the company expanded into Atlanta and Austin through a partnership with Uber.

Future Market Expansion

Waymo plans to broaden its reach further in 2026, with ambitions to enter Denver, Miami, Nashville, London, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Vehicles and Technology

The company will deploy both self-driving Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr RT vehicles in the new markets. However, immediate access will be limited as Waymo’s strategy begins with human operators manually driving the vehicles for city mapping purposes.

Testing and Implementation Phases

• Initial phase: Human safety drivers operate vehicles.
• Transition: Human drivers will be removed after successful testing.
• Access: The service will first be opened to employees, media, and selected consumers.

City-Specific Insights

Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley stated that Waymo’s technology provides a reliable alternative for residents and visitors alike. The city remains committed to adopting this innovative transportation method responsibly.

Waymo’s presence in these cities is not new; the company has prior experience operating its autonomous vehicles in each location. In Detroit, Waymo has enhanced its vehicles for winter conditions, contributing to their performance in snowy weather.

Competitive Landscape

Waymo’s rapid growth has established it as a leading player in the robotaxi market. However, competitors are emerging, including Zoox, which operates a free robotaxi service in Las Vegas, and Tesla, running a similar service in parts of Austin.

As Waymo continues to expand its robotaxi services, the landscape of autonomous transportation is evolving, paving the way for more cities to benefit from this groundbreaking technology.