Waymo Co-CEO on Safe Robotaxi Scaling | Autonomous Vehicle Insights

Waymo's Focus on Scalability

During a recent interview at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Waymo’s co-CEO, Tekedra Mawakana, emphasized the critical need for the company to scale its operations.

Mawakana articulated that this expansion is not solely about financial growth and profitability. She also believes that increasing the number of vehicles on the road will contribute to improved overall road safety.

Rapid Expansion Plans

This year has seen Waymo aggressively expanding its services. The company anticipates launching in several new U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., Miami, Denver, Dallas, Seattle, and Nashville.

Further expansion is planned for London in 2026. Waymo is achieving this rapid growth through strategic partnerships with companies like Uber, Lyft, and Avis.

“By the end of 2026, we project to be facilitating 1 million trips each week,” Mawakana stated.

Safety and Transparency

Mawakana dedicated a significant portion of her discussion with TechCrunch transportation editor Kirsten Korosec to the challenges inherent in achieving safe scalability.

She asserted that Waymo’s current operational level demonstrates a safety record exceeding that of the average human driver.

Mawakana also subtly criticized competitors, suggesting a lack of sufficient effort in demonstrating the safety of their autonomous vehicle technology.

“There is a responsibility for companies to be fully transparent regarding their operational data,” she explained. “A lack of transparency suggests a failure to prioritize road safety.”

Addressing Recent Incidents

These statements follow ongoing efforts to resolve complex scenarios encountered during expansion. A recent incident in Atlanta, Georgia, involving a Waymo vehicle and a stopped school bus, is currently under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Waymo has released a report indicating its vehicles are already five times safer than human drivers overall, and twelve times safer concerning pedestrian safety.

Despite these claims, Waymo vehicles have occasionally exhibited questionable decision-making.

Accountability and Incident Management

“Acknowledging accountability and maintaining transparency are crucial, even if perfection isn’t immediately attainable,” Mawakana emphasized.

She clarified that Waymo anticipates incidents will occur, given the interaction of its vehicles with human drivers and existing road conditions.

“We don’t ask *if* incidents will happen, but *when*, and we proactively plan for them,” she added.

Mawakana confirmed that Waymo does not define an acceptable number of incidents.

“We recognize that incidents are inevitable due to the current state of roadways and the risks associated with human driving, which unfortunately results in numerous fatalities and injuries,” she explained.

When questioned about public acceptance of potential fatalities involving robotaxis, despite the promise of increased safety, Mawakana responded: “I believe society will ultimately accept this.”