Self-driving vehicles are slowly changing into much less sci-fi and extra real-world as corporations like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google’s father or mother, Alphabet, broaden into extra areas.
On Monday, Waymo stated it is bringing its ride-hailing service to a few 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 outfitted with Waymo’s newest, sixth-generation self-driving expertise. The corporate plans to divulge heart’s contents to public riders within the new areas subsequent yr.
Waymo at the moment operates absolutely autonomous rides for most people in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Austin, Texas, which use the all-electric Jaguar I-Tempo. The automobiles might be summoned both through the Waymo app or Uber, relying on the town.
Waymo’s expansions have ramped up in latest months, with Nashville, New York, Denver and Seattle becoming a member of the roster of upcoming robotaxi areas. In an Aug. 29 weblog submit, Waymo stated it is “coming into a brand new chapter and accelerating our business enlargement.”
Final month, Waymo shared it is heading 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 absolutely autonomous operations,” the corporate stated in an announcement. “We are going to scale up primarily based on tips established by the UK Division for Transport and Transport for London, and work intently with native and nationwide leaders to safe the mandatory permissions to supply absolutely autonomous rides in 2026.” London is Waymo’s second worldwide metropolis, after saying final yr that it is increasing to Tokyo, although passengers cannot hail a trip there simply but.
You’ll find a full record of the place Waymo is heading under.
Waymo’s enlargement extends to its manufacturing amenities. In Could, the corporate stated it is opening a brand new, 239,000-square-foot autonomous automobile manufacturing facility within the Phoenix space. The plan is so as to add 2,000 extra absolutely autonomous Jaguar I-Tempo automobiles to its present 1,500-vehicle fleet. Notably, Waymo indicated it obtained its “ultimate 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 deliver the following 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 growing autonomous driving tech, which might sometime be factored into personally owned automobiles.
The self-driving firm says it is pushed over 100 million absolutely autonomous miles on public roads and has offered 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 abnormal 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 via March 2025, its Waymo Driver expertise had 88% fewer crashes resulting in critical accidents or worse and 78% fewer injury-causing crashes, in contrast with “a median 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 broaden and develop its self-driving tech, here is how and the place to summon the robotaxi in the event you occur to be in one of many few cities the place the corporate at the moment operates its fleet.
Watch this: Testing Waymo’s Protected Exit Function in a Self-Driving Taxi
Hailing a trip in Phoenix
Phoenix was the first metropolis to open up absolutely 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 per week.
You can even use the Uber app to summon certainly one of Waymo’s automobiles in Phoenix. If you request an UberX, Uber Inexperienced, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical trip, you may have the selection to verify a Waymo trip, in the event you’re matched.
Along with hailing a trip, you may additionally have your Uber Eats meal delivered by an autonomous automobile. When inserting an order within the Phoenix space, you may get a observe that “autonomous automobiles might ship your order.” When the Waymo automobile arrives, take your cellphone with you to pop open the trunk and seize your supply. You possibly can choose out of this throughout checkout in the event you’d somewhat have a human ship your meals.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport turned the primary main airport to supply absolutely autonomous Waymo rides to its terminals. Waymo stated in September 2025 that it has “served tons of of hundreds of journeys to/from Sky Harbor, and it stays the one hottest Waymo vacation spot in Phoenix.”
Hailing a trip within the San Francisco Bay Space
San Francisco adopted go well with after Phoenix, rolling out absolutely autonomous rides in late 2022. It scrapped the ready record in June 2024, so now anybody can obtain the Waymo app to trip anytime. The service additionally operates 24 hours a day, seven days per week. There’s at the moment no Uber partnership in San Francisco.
In August 2024, Waymo expanded its ride-hailing service into the San Francisco Peninsula, and expanded once more in March in order that choose Waymo riders who stay in Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto and elements of Sunnyvale have the choice to hail a robotaxi there, too. In June, it expanded additional into the Peninsula, and its service space now consists of Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Daly Metropolis, Broadmoor and Colma. Choose riders can now additionally entry Mountain View and extra elements of Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
In Could, the California Public Utilities Fee authorised Waymo’s software to function in South Bay and practically all of San Jose, opening up the door to future expansions.
In early September, San Jose Mineta Worldwide Airport turned the primary business airport in California the place Waymo can supply absolutely autonomous rides to its terminals. Waymo says it will begin testing this fall and plans to make rides accessible there later this yr.
And in mid-September, Waymo obtained a pilot allow to function commercially at San Francisco Worldwide Airport. The rollout will embody three phases, starting with an onboard security driver, then transferring onto assessments with no human driver with Waymo and airport staff, and culminating in business operations.
Hailing a trip in Los Angeles County
In November, Waymo scrapped its waitlist for Los Angeles and started welcoming all public riders through the Waymo app. Now any passengers can hop within the robotaxis 24/7 and trip throughout practically 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 at the moment no Uber partnership in Los Angeles.
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 areas 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 solution to hail a Waymo trip is via Uber — no Waymo app right here. By requesting an UberX, Uber Inexperienced, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical, you can be matched with a Waymo automobile — and you will not be upcharged. In the event you’d somewhat not take a driverless trip, you may have the choice to change to a normal one. Alternatively, if you wish to increase your probabilities of being matched to a self-driving automobile, you may 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 fee 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 through 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 accountable 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 may climb aboard a Waymo robotaxi solely through the Uber app. If you e-book a trip via UberX, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical, you is likely to be paired with a Waymo automobile at no extra value. You may have the choice to simply accept or decline the driverless trip every time.
You possibly can unlock the automobile, pop the trunk and begin the journey all from the Uber app, and you may entry human help 24/7 through the Uber app and from touchscreens contained in the automobile.
If you wish to increase your probabilities of being paired with a Waymo automobile, you may choose 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 submit. “Whereas Las Vegas is exclusive, its driving dynamics are familiar-similar to cities the place we already function. This familiarity positions us properly to assist serve Las Vegas’s 40-plus million annual guests.”
Waymo stated it plans to make its ride-hailing service accessible in Vegas in the summertime of 2026.
San Diego
San Diego is the most recent main metropolis Waymo is increasing to in its residence state of California.
“As we work to broaden 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 submit.
Waymo says it plans to open up its autonomous service in San Diego in 2026.
Detroit
In contrast to most of the different cities Waymo is increasing to, Detroit presents the problem of harsh winter climate.
In a weblog submit, 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 look ahead to the Sixth-generation Waymo Driver navigating Detroit streets this winter.”
London
In mid-October, Waymo stated its automobiles shall be heading to London with “educated human specialists” behind the wheel within the coming weeks, making the town its first European location. The corporate added that it is working with “native and nationwide leaders to safe the mandatory permissions to supply absolutely autonomous rides in 2026.”
Nashville
In September, Waymo stated it is partnering with Lyft to broaden 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 via the Waymo app, and can finally 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 shall be accountable for the self-driving expertise.
Denver
Waymo is ready 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 submit. 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 submit that it “spent years attending to know the world — from communities across the Lake to its notoriously moist climate.” It is not but clear when precisely that service will launch.
Dallas
Waymo is at the moment conducting early testing in Dallas, with plans to launch public rides through the Waymo app subsequent yr. The corporate is teaming up with Avis Finances Group, which can handle the fleet, together with automobile cleansing and upkeep.
“Our partnership with Waymo marks a pivotal milestone in our evolution, from a rental automobile 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 broaden to extra cities within the close to future.”
New York Metropolis
In June, Waymo shared plans to deliver 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 Massive 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 software 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 check 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.
Current legal guidelines within the state of New York do not allow the identical absolutely autonomous ride-hailing service that corporations like Waymo supply in different elements of the nation, so Waymo remains 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’ve got each intention of bringing our absolutely 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 “probably the most complicated 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 aren’t any instant plans to launch a robotaxi service there.
Washington, DC
Waymo plans to begin providing rides via 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 submit, Waymo stated it will “proceed to work intently with policymakers to formalize the rules wanted to function with no human behind the wheel within the District.”
Miami
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 submit, “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 gives automobile financing, first in Phoenix, the place Moove will handle the robotaxi’s fleet operations, amenities and charging infrastructure. In Phoenix after which Miami, “Waymo will proceed to supply our service via the Waymo app, and stay accountable for validation and operation of the Waymo Driver,” the corporate stated in a weblog submit.
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 educated 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 improvement and strategic partnerships, stated in an announcement.
It is not 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 broaden the capabilities of its driverless fleet. Smarter sensors are supposed to assist the vehicles higher navigate in excessive climate, Waymo stated. The sixth-gen Driver will come aboard the all-electric Zeekr automobile, which includes a flat ground, extra head- and legroom, adjustable seats and a detachable steering wheel and pedals. The up to date tech remains to be being examined, however the firm says it will be accessible 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, based on a weblog submit, “shall be added to the Waymo One fleet over time.” The businesses added that they “plan to supply a fleet of Ioniq 5s outfitted with Waymo’s expertise in vital quantity over a number of years to help Waymo One’s rising scale.” Testing with these automobiles will begin by late 2025 and turn out to be accessible “within the years to comply with.”
At the moment, on a regular basis riders cannot take a Waymo automobile on highways and freeways, however that will quickly change. The corporate is testing absolutely autonomous rides on freeways in Phoenix, as seen in an unique video shared with CNET in Could 2024. It is also now making absolutely autonomous freeway rides accessible to Waymo staff in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Space.
Waymo is working to broaden its autonomous driving tech into trucking as properly, but it surely stated in 2023 that it is scaling again these efforts in the intervening time, 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 improvement efforts.”
