Well before the year is out, autonomous rides are set to become more common on American streets. Alphabet-owned Waymo has announced that it will open its robotaxi service to the public in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, marking another major step in its rapid expansion.
The rollout will follow the same approach used in earlier launches. Select users who have downloaded the Waymo app will start receiving ride invitations from Tuesday. Access will expand gradually, and eventually anyone with the app will be able to book a ride.
This expansion adds fresh momentum to Waymo’s growth story. In February last year, the company was operating commercial robotaxi services in Phoenix and nearby suburbs, parts of Los Angeles, and San Francisco. At that time, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said Waymo was completing more than 200,000 rides every week.
Over the past 12 months, Waymo has significantly widened its reach. In San Francisco, its service area now runs along Highway 101 through several towns up to San Jose. The company now serves 3 airports, including San Francisco International Airport. It has also launched services in partnership with Uber in Atlanta and Austin, expanded operations to freeways in 3 cities, and opened its robotaxi service to the public in Miami last month.
Waymo rarely shares updated ridership figures. The most recent disclosure showed more than 400,000 rides per week, though the actual number is believed to be higher now.
The company is not slowing down. It plans to launch robotaxi services in more cities later this year, including Denver, London, and Washington, D.C. Waymo is also backed by an additional $16 billion raised in a funding round led by Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global, and Sequoia Capital, valuing the company at $126 billion.
Waymo currently operates a fleet of about 3,000 robotaxis across Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The fleet will grow with the addition of the 4 new cities, but the company says expansion will be gradual. Spokesperson Chris Bonelli said dozens of vehicles will be deployed initially, scaling up over the coming months.
The workforce supporting these operations is also expected to expand. Waymo currently employs about 70 remote assistance workers who monitor vehicles and respond to complex on-road situations.
Despite increased scrutiny from safety regulators following a recent incident in Santa Monica, Waymo remains confident. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said the company is on track to deliver more than 1 million rides per week by the end of this year and is preparing for robotaxi services in over 20 cities.
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