Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to 3 New Cities

Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to New Cities

Waymo announced on Monday the launch of its robotaxi service in Detroit, Las Vegas, and San Diego, signifying an acceleration of the company’s growth strategy. As a subsidiary of Alphabet, Waymo is transitioning from a developer of autonomous vehicle technology to a fully-fledged commercial operation.

Scaling for Growth

This expansion follows recent statements by Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, who emphasized the necessity of scaling the business during TechCrunch Disrupt 2025. She indicated a significant target for service volume.

“We anticipate providing 1 million trips each week by the close of 2026,” Mawakana stated.

Current Operations and Growth

As of April, Waymo was already completing over 250,000 rides weekly. The company has subsequently increased this number, though specific figures haven't been publicly released.

Waymo initially focused its testing in Silicon Valley before launching commercial robotaxi services in Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Los Angeles. Recent partnerships with Uber have extended services to Atlanta and Austin.

Future Expansion Plans

Beyond these new cities, Waymo has outlined plans for further expansion in 2026, including Denver, Miami, Nashville, London, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Vehicle Deployment

The rollout in Detroit, Las Vegas, and San Diego will feature a combination of self-driving Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr RT vehicles. Initial access will not be immediately available to the general public.

Go-to-Market Strategy

Waymo’s typical approach involves initial operation with human drivers for mapping purposes. These safety operators are then removed, allowing the autonomous vehicles – equipped with cameras, radar, lidar, and sophisticated software – to navigate independently.

Following a period of driverless testing, access is gradually granted to employees, media representatives, and select consumers before a full public launch.

City Perspectives

Las Vegas mayor Shelley Berkley expressed enthusiasm, stating that Waymo’s technology represents a “proven, safe, new alternative” for both residents and the city’s numerous visitors. She also affirmed the city’s commitment to responsible technology adoption.

Prior Experience and Winter Readiness

Waymo is not new to these markets, having previously tested its autonomous vehicles in Detroit, Las Vegas, and San Diego. The company also maintains an engineering presence in the Detroit area.

Furthermore, Waymo asserts its preparedness for Detroit’s winter conditions, having conducted extensive testing throughout the metro Detroit area and the Upper Peninsula to enhance its cold-weather capabilities.

Market Position and Competition

Waymo attributes its rapid expansion to the generalized nature of its self-driving system, which has established the company as a leading force in the robotaxi market.

However, competition is emerging. Zoox currently operates a free robotaxi service in Las Vegas, leveraging years of testing and development within the city. Tesla is also piloting a robotaxi service, albeit with human safety drivers, in select areas of Austin.