Self-driving automobiles are slowly turning into much less sci-fi and extra real-world as firms like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google’s dad or mum, Alphabet, develop into extra areas. And on Tuesday, Waymo stated it’s going to be driving totally autonomously in 5 new cities, doubling the variety of locations by which its automobiles function with out a human behind the wheel.
Waymo presently provides totally autonomous rides to most people in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas, by means of the all-electric Jaguar I-Tempo. The automobiles could be summoned both by way of the Waymo app or Uber, relying on the town.
Now, it’s going to additionally drive totally autonomously in Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando — first with workers solely, earlier than opening to the general public subsequent yr. The rollout kicked off on Tuesday in Miami and can lengthen to the opposite 4 cities within the coming weeks, Waymo stated in a weblog publish.
Waymo’s expansions have ramped up in current months. In an Aug. 29 weblog publish, Waymo stated it is “coming into a brand new chapter and accelerating our industrial enlargement.”
In early November, Waymo stated it is bringing its ride-hailing service to 3 new cities: Las Vegas, San Diego and Detroit. As a part of the rollout, Waymo is deploying each its Jaguar I-Tempo fleet, which already operates in a handful of different cities, in addition to the newer Zeeker RT automobiles which can be geared up with Waymo’s newest, sixth-generation self-driving expertise. The corporate plans to confide in public riders within the new places subsequent yr.
And final week, Waymo started driving passengers on freeways in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles.
You’ll find a full listing of the place Waymo presently operates and plans to develop beneath.
Waymo’s progress extends to its manufacturing services. In Might, the corporate stated it is opening a brand new, 239,000-square-foot autonomous automobile manufacturing unit within the Phoenix space. The plan is so as to add 2,000 extra totally autonomous Jaguar I-Tempo automobiles to its present 1,500-vehicle fleet. Notably, Waymo indicated it acquired its “closing supply from Jaguar” earlier this yr, because it plans for future iterations of its driverless rides. Waymo added that the “facility’s versatile design” will enable it to combine its upcoming sixth-generation self-driving expertise into new automobiles, beginning with the all-electric Zeekr RT.
Final October, Waymo additionally introduced it is partnering with Hyundai to carry the subsequent technology of its expertise into Ioniq 5 SUVs. Within the years to return, riders will be capable to summon these all-electric, autonomous automobiles utilizing the Waymo app. And in April, Waymo stated it reached a preliminary settlement with Toyota to “discover a collaboration” geared towards creating autonomous driving tech, which might sometime be factored into personally owned automobiles.
The self-driving firm says it is pushed over 100 million totally autonomous miles on public roads and has supplied greater than 10 million paid rides. I’ve hailed a number of rides myself in San Francisco and, as off-putting as it could possibly appear at first (particularly to see a steering wheel flip by itself), I shortly adjusted, and it quickly felt like an peculiar trip.
That is to not say there hasn’t been pushback as Waymo rolls out to extra cities. The corporate’s automobiles have been concerned in a handful of high-profile collisions, together with one with a bicyclist in San Francisco and one other with a towed pickup truck in Phoenix. (Waymo recalled and up to date its software program to handle the difficulty.)
Waymo’s Security Influence report notes that over the course of 71 million autonomous miles pushed by means of March 2025, its Waymo Driver expertise had 88% fewer crashes resulting in severe accidents or worse and 78% fewer injury-causing crashes, in contrast with “a mean human driver over the identical distance in our working cities.” It additionally reported considerably fewer crashes with accidents to pedestrians (93%), cyclists (81%) and motorcyclists (86%).
As Waymo continues to develop and develop its self-driving tech, this is how and the place to summon the robotaxi when you occur to be in one of many few cities the place the corporate presently operates its fleet.
Watch this: Testing Waymo’s Secure Exit Characteristic in a Self-Driving Taxi
Hailing a trip in Phoenix
Phoenix was the first metropolis to open up totally autonomous Waymo rides to the general public, in 2020. To hail a trip, obtain the Waymo app on iOS or Android. The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days every week.
You too can use the Uber app to summon one among Waymo’s automobiles in Phoenix. Whenever you request an UberX, Uber Inexperienced, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical trip, you will have the selection to substantiate a Waymo trip, when you’re matched.
Along with hailing a trip, you might also have your Uber Eats meal delivered by an autonomous automotive. When putting an order within the Phoenix space, you would possibly get a word that “autonomous automobiles could ship your order.” When the Waymo automotive arrives, take your cellphone with you to pop open the trunk and seize your supply. You’ll be able to decide out of this throughout checkout when you’d quite have a human ship your meals.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport turned the primary main airport to supply totally autonomous Waymo rides to its terminals. Waymo stated in September 2025 that it has “served a whole bunch of 1000’s of journeys to/from Sky Harbor, and it stays the one hottest Waymo vacation spot in Phoenix.”
Waymo added freeways entry to passengers in Phoenix in November.
Hailing a trip within the San Francisco Bay Space
San Francisco adopted swimsuit after Phoenix, rolling out totally autonomous rides in late 2022. It scrapped the ready listing in June 2024, so now anybody can obtain the Waymo app to trip anytime. The service additionally operates 24 hours a day, seven days every week. There’s presently no Uber partnership in San Francisco.
In November, Waymo expanded its service space to stretch throughout greater than 260 sq. miles of the San Francisco Bay Space, and added freeway entry for passengers. Riders can now hail a driverless trip to San Jose Mineta Worldwide Airport, making it the second worldwide airport at which Waymo operates, after Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport.
Waymo acquired a pilot allow to function commercially at San Francisco Worldwide Airport in mid-September. The rollout will embody three phases, starting with an onboard security driver, then shifting onto assessments with out a human driver with Waymo and airport workers, and culminating in industrial operations.
Hailing a trip in Los Angeles County
In November 2024, Waymo scrapped its waitlist for Los Angeles and started welcoming all public riders by way of the Waymo app. Now any passengers can hop within the robotaxis 24/7 and trip throughout almost 120 sq. miles of LA County, together with Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Inglewood, Silver Lake, Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park and Downtown LA, and alongside all of Sundown Boulevard.
There’s presently no Uber partnership in Los Angeles.
In November, Waymo started rolling out freeway entry to LA riders.
Hailing a trip in Austin
Riders can hail a Waymo throughout 90 sq. miles of Austin, together with neighborhoods like Crestview, Windsor Park and Franklin Park and places like The Area and McKinney Falls State Park. There are greater than 100 Waymo automobiles within the metropolis, with plans for additional enlargement.
In Austin, the one option to hail a Waymo trip is by means of Uber — no Waymo app right here. By requesting an UberX, Uber Inexperienced, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical, you may be matched with a Waymo automobile — and you will not be upcharged. In case you’d quite not take a driverless trip, you will have the choice to change to an ordinary one. Then again, if you wish to enhance your possibilities of being matched to a self-driving automotive, you possibly can go to Account > Settings > Autonomous automobiles, then hit the toggle subsequent to Get extra Waymo rides.
Unlock the door, pop open the trunk and begin the trip from the Uber app. You may nonetheless be requested to price your trip on the finish, however you will not be requested to tip.
If there are any points, riders can entry human help 24/7 by way of the Uber app and from contained in the Waymo automobile (there are screens in the back and front that allow you to shortly summon buyer help).
As a part of the Uber partnership, Uber will handle duties like automobile cleansing and restore, whereas “Waymo will proceed to be liable for the testing and operation of the Waymo Driver, together with roadside help and sure rider help features,” the businesses stated. The collaboration ought to make autonomous rides accessible to extra individuals, who now will not should obtain a separate app to hitch a trip in a robotaxi.
Hailing a trip in Atlanta
Waymo operates throughout 65 sq. miles of Atlanta, with plans for future expansions. Like in Austin, you possibly can climb aboard a Waymo robotaxi solely by way of the Uber app. Whenever you e book a trip by means of UberX, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical, you may be paired with a Waymo automobile at no further price. You may have the choice to simply accept or decline the driverless trip every time.
You’ll be able to unlock the automobile, pop the trunk and begin the journey all from the Uber app, and you may entry human help 24/7 by way of the Uber app and from touchscreens contained in the automobile.
If you wish to enhance your possibilities of being paired with a Waymo automobile, you possibly can decide in by going to the Uber app, tapping Account > Settings > Autonomous automobiles (beneath Trip Preferences), after which hitting the toggle subsequent to Get extra Waymo rides.
Upcoming expansions
Las Vegas
In January, Waymo stated it will start testing with manually pushed automobiles in 10 new cities, beginning with Las Vegas and San Diego. And in November, it introduced its robotaxi service will formally be increasing to these cities in 2026.
“We have recurrently visited Las Vegas over time and located the Waymo Driver simply adapts to the town,” Waymo stated in a weblog publish. “Whereas Las Vegas is exclusive, its driving dynamics are familiar-similar to cities the place we already function. This familiarity positions us nicely to assist serve Las Vegas’s 40-plus million annual guests.”
Waymo stated it plans to make its ride-hailing service out there in Vegas in the summertime of 2026.
San Diego
San Diego is the newest main metropolis Waymo is increasing to in its residence state of California.
“As we work to develop our deployment permits, we’re partnering with native groups, coaching first responders, and deepening group relationships so we are able to finest serve the group and its guests after we open our doorways,” the corporate stated in a weblog publish.
Waymo says it plans to open up its autonomous service in San Diego in 2026.
Detroit
In contrast to lots of the different cities Waymo is increasing to, Detroit presents the problem of harsh winter climate.
In a weblog publish, Waymo stated it has “recurrently examined in Detroit throughout winter climate to develop our capabilities in snow and ice. We have made nice strides in our efforts to function in heavier snow – together with testing in Michigan’s Higher Peninsula – and stay up for the Sixth-generation Waymo Driver navigating Detroit streets this winter.”
London
In mid-October, Waymo stated its automobiles are headed to London, making the town its first European location. It’s going to begin driving on the town’s roads with people behind the wheel “whereas we lay the groundwork for totally autonomous operations,” the corporate stated in an announcement. “We are going to scale up based mostly on pointers established by the UK Division for Transport and Transport for London, and work carefully with native and nationwide leaders to safe the required permissions to supply totally autonomous rides in 2026.”
London is Waymo’s second worldwide metropolis, after asserting final yr that it is increasing to Tokyo, although passengers cannot hail a trip there simply but.
Nashville
In September, Waymo stated it is partnering with Lyft to develop to Nashville. Waymo will begin driving within the metropolis autonomously within the “coming months,” earlier than opening to the general public in 2026. Riders will be capable to hail automobiles by means of the Waymo app, and can ultimately have the choice to be matched with a robotaxi within the Lyft app, too.
As a part of the collaboration, Lyft will handle the robotaxi fleet, which incorporates automobile upkeep and cleansing, whereas Waymo will probably be liable for the self-driving expertise.
Denver
Waymo is about to reach in Denver this fall “to put the groundwork for a completely autonomous service sooner or later,” the corporate stated in an early September weblog publish. It’s going to deploy a combined fleet consisting of Jaguar I-Tempo automobiles with its fifth-generation Waymo Driver in addition to Zeekr RT automobiles with the sixth-gen Waymo Driver. That newer expertise “is knowledgeable by years of winter climate expertise throughout Michigan, upstate New York, and the Sierra Nevada and engineered to autonomously maintain operations in harsher climates,” Waymo stated.
Seattle
In early September, Waymo shared that it is heading to the Seattle metropolitan space, noting in a weblog publish that it “spent years attending to know the realm — from communities across the Lake to its notoriously moist climate.” It isn’t but clear when precisely that service will launch.
Dallas, Houston and San Antonio
Waymo is presently conducting early testing in Dallas, with plans to launch public rides by way of the Waymo app subsequent yr. The corporate is teaming up with Avis Finances Group, which is able to handle the fleet, together with automobile cleansing and upkeep.
“Our partnership with Waymo marks a pivotal milestone in our evolution, from a rental automotive firm to a number one supplier of fleet administration, infrastructure and operations to the broader mobility ecosystem,” Avis Finances Group CEO Brian Choi stated in an announcement. “Collectively, we’re dedicated to creating scaled autonomous mobility a actuality for the individuals of Dallas, with plans to develop to further cities within the close to future.”
Waymo can also be planning to launch in Houston and San Antonio subsequent yr. In November, Waymo stated it will start rolling out totally autonomous rides within the three Texas cities for workers, earlier than launching for the general public in 2026.
New York Metropolis
In June, Waymo shared plans to carry its autonomous tech again to New York, after having first operated by hand its automobiles there in 2021. It as soon as once more started driving manually within the Huge Apple in early July, particularly in Manhattan and elements of downtown Brooklyn, in addition to in close by Jersey Metropolis and Hoboken. Waymo submitted a allow utility with the New York Metropolis Division of Transportation to function autonomously with a human behind the wheel, which was granted in late August.
As a part of the New York Metropolis allow, Waymo can take a look at as much as eight autonomous automobiles in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn till September. After that, it could possibly apply for an extension to the pilot testing interval.
Present legal guidelines within the state of New York do not allow the identical totally autonomous ride-hailing service that firms like Waymo supply in different elements of the nation, so Waymo continues to be unable to cost for rides. In June, Waymo stated it was “advocating for a change in state legislation that might enable for working a automobile with no human behind the wheel,” including, “we have now each intention of bringing our totally autonomous ride-hailing service to the town sooner or later.”
Philadelphia
Waymo stated in July that it is bringing a restricted fleet of its automobiles to “essentially the most advanced elements” of Philadelphia, “together with downtown and freeways.” These automobiles could have human drivers behind the wheel as the corporate continues to develop its driving capabilities. There are not any fast plans to launch a robotaxi service there.
Washington, DC
Waymo plans to start out providing rides by means of its Waymo app in Washington, DC, in 2026. The corporate returned to the nation’s capital in January to check its autonomous driving tech. In late March, it stated it was bringing extra automobiles to the town and dealing to scale its service all year long. In a weblog publish, Waymo stated it’s going to “proceed to work carefully with policymakers to formalize the rules wanted to function with out a human behind the wheel within the District.”
Miami and Orlando
You may even have to attend till 2026 to trip a Waymo in Miami. The corporate has been conducting climate testing within the lead-up to that eventual rollout, noting in a weblog publish, “Our earlier highway journeys to the Sunshine State’s difficult wet circumstances have been invaluable in advancing our autonomous driving capabilities.”
Waymo will collaborate with Moove, a fintech firm that provides automobile financing, first in Phoenix, the place Moove will handle the robotaxi’s fleet operations, services and charging infrastructure. In Phoenix after which Miami, “Waymo will proceed to supply our service by means of the Waymo app, and stay liable for validation and operation of the Waymo Driver,” the corporate stated in a weblog publish.
In November, Waymo started working totally autonomous rides in Miami with workers, because it prepares for a public launch subsequent yr.
It is also rolling out driverless rides in Orlando for workers because it will get able to launch its service there in 2026.
Tokyo
In December, Waymo introduced it is increasing to Tokyo, making it the corporate’s first worldwide location. Waymo is partnering with Japanese taxi service Nihon Kotsu and taxi app Go. In April, the self-driving firm shared that it is lastly able to hit the highway overseas.
Waymo says skilled Nihon Kotsu drivers will manually drive its automobiles throughout seven Tokyo wards, together with Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa and Kōtō. This can enable engineers to check and adapt Waymo’s autonomous driving tech to native highway options and site visitors.
“In Tokyo, we’re abiding by the identical steadfast rules that information us within the US — dedication to security, dedication to incomes belief in communities the place we function, and collaboration with native officers and group teams right here in Tokyo,” Nicole Gavel, Waymo’s head of enterprise growth and strategic partnerships, stated in an announcement.
It isn’t clear when riders will be capable to hitch a self-driving trip with Waymo in Tokyo.
The highway forward: Future automobiles
In August 2024, Waymo unveiled the sixth technology of its self-driving expertise, which strives to develop the capabilities of its driverless fleet. Smarter sensors are supposed to assist the automobiles higher navigate in excessive climate, Waymo stated. The sixth-gen Driver will come aboard the all-electric Zeekr automobile, which includes a flat flooring, extra head- and legroom, adjustable seats and a detachable steering wheel and pedals. The up to date tech continues to be being examined, however the firm says it’s going to be out there to riders quickly.
In October, Waymo additionally introduced a partnership with Hyundai to combine its sixth-generation Driver into the all-electric Ioniq 5 SUV, which, in accordance with a weblog publish, “will probably be added to the Waymo One fleet over time.” The businesses added that they “plan to supply a fleet of Ioniq 5s geared up with Waymo’s expertise in important quantity over a number of years to help Waymo One’s rising scale.” Testing with these automobiles will begin by late 2025 and grow to be out there “within the years to observe.”
At the moment, on a regular basis riders cannot take a Waymo automobile on highways and freeways, however which will quickly change. The corporate is testing totally autonomous rides on freeways in Phoenix, as seen in an unique video shared with CNET in Might 2024. It is also now making totally autonomous freeway rides out there to Waymo workers in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Space.
Waymo is working to develop its autonomous driving tech into trucking as nicely, but it surely stated in 2023 that it is scaling again these efforts in the meanwhile, to give attention to ride-hailing with Waymo One. It famous, “Our ongoing funding in advancing Waymo Driver capabilities, particularly on freeways, will instantly translate to trucking and profit its growth efforts.”
