Self-driving automobiles are slowly turning into less sci-fi and more real-world as firms like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google’s mother or father, Alphabet, broaden into extra areas. And on Thursday, Waymo mentioned it is increasing to a few new cities: Minneapolis; New Orleans; and Tampa, Florida.
Waymo will begin with handbook driving in these cities, earlier than ultimately switching to autonomous operations. It is not clear when precisely the corporate will permit public riders aboard. It may occur subsequent 12 months, relying on when Waymo validates its self-driving tech in these places.
This follows an replace from earlier this week, when Waymo mentioned it will be driving absolutely autonomously in five new cities: Miami; Dallas; Houston; San Antonio; and Orlando, Florida. It’s going to first function with workers solely, earlier than opening to the general public subsequent 12 months. This doubles the variety of locations wherein Waymo’s autos function and not using a human behind the wheel.
Waymo at present provides absolutely autonomous rides to most of the people in Phoenix; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Atlanta; and Austin, Texas, by means of the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace. The autos might be summoned both through the Waymo app or Uber, relying on the town. Final week, Waymo started driving passengers on freeways in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles.
Waymo’s expansions have ramped up in current months. In an Aug. 29 blog post, it famous it is “coming into a brand new chapter and accelerating our industrial growth.”
In early November, Waymo mentioned it is bringing its ride-hailing service to a few new cities: Las Vegas, San Diego and Detroit. As a part of the rollout, the corporate is deploying each its Jaguar I-Tempo fleet, which already operates in a handful of different cities, in addition to the newer Zeeker RT autos which can be outfitted with Waymo’s newest, sixth-generation self-driving know-how. The corporate plans to divulge heart’s contents to public riders within the new places subsequent 12 months.
You’ll find a full listing of the place Waymo at present operates and plans to broaden beneath.
Waymo’s development extends to its manufacturing services. In Could, the corporate mentioned it is opening a new, 239,000-square-foot autonomous car manufacturing facility within the Phoenix space. The plan is so as to add 2,000 extra absolutely autonomous Jaguar I-Tempo autos to its current 1,500-vehicle fleet. Notably, Waymo indicated it obtained its “final delivery from Jaguar” earlier this 12 months, because it plans for future iterations of its driverless rides. Waymo added that the “facility’s versatile design” will permit it to combine its upcoming sixth-generation self-driving know-how into new autos, beginning with the all-electric Zeekr RT.
Final October, Waymo additionally introduced it is partnering with Hyundai to deliver the subsequent technology of its know-how into Ioniq 5 SUVs. Within the years to come back, riders will be capable to summon these all-electric, autonomous autos utilizing the Waymo app. And in April, Waymo mentioned it reached a preliminary agreement with Toyota to “discover a collaboration” geared towards creating autonomous driving tech, which may sometime be factored into personally owned autos.
The self-driving firm says it is pushed over 100 million absolutely 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 might probably appear at first (particularly to see a steering wheel flip by itself), I rapidly 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 autos 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 updated its software to handle the difficulty.)
Waymo’s Safety Impact report notes that over the course of 71 million autonomous miles pushed by means of March 2025, its Waymo Driver know-how had 88% fewer crashes resulting in critical 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 broaden and develop its self-driving tech, here is how and the place to summon the robotaxi should you occur to be in one of many few cities the place the corporate at present operates its fleet.
Watch this: Testing Waymo’s Secure Exit Function in a Self-Driving Taxi
Hailing a trip in Phoenix
Phoenix was the first city 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 every week.
You too can use the Uber app to summon considered one of Waymo’s autos in Phoenix. While you request an UberX, Uber Inexperienced, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical trip, you will have the selection to substantiate a Waymo trip, should you’re matched.
Along with hailing a ride, you may additionally have your Uber Eats meal delivered by an autonomous car. When putting an order within the Phoenix space, you may get a observe that “autonomous autos could ship your order.” When the Waymo automobile arrives, take your cellphone with you to pop open the trunk and seize your supply. You may decide out of this throughout checkout should you’d slightly 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 mentioned in September 2025 that it has “served a whole lot of 1000’s of journeys to/from Sky Harbor, and it stays the only 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 fully autonomous rides in late 2022. It scrapped the waiting list 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 at present 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 access for passengers. Riders can now hail a driverless trip to San Jose Mineta International Airport, making it the second worldwide airport at which Waymo operates, after Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport.
Waymo obtained a pilot allow to function commercially at San Francisco International Airport in mid-September. The rollout will embrace three phases, starting with an onboard security driver, then shifting onto assessments and not using 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 commenced welcoming all public riders through 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 at present 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 autos within the metropolis, with plans for additional growth.
In Austin, the one strategy to hail a Waymo trip is through Uber — no Waymo app right here. By requesting an UberX, Uber Inexperienced, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical, you could possibly be matched with a Waymo car — and you will not be upcharged. Should you’d slightly not take a driverless trip, you will have the choice to modify to a regular one. However, if you wish to increase your possibilities of being matched to a self-driving automobile, you may go to Account > Settings > Autonomous autos, 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 will 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 through the Uber app and from contained in the Waymo car (there are screens in the back and front that allow you to rapidly summon buyer help).
As a part of the Uber partnership, Uber will handle duties like car 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 mentioned. 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. While you ebook a trip by means of UberX, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical, you is perhaps paired with a Waymo car at no further price. You will have the choice to simply accept or decline the driverless trip every time.
You may unlock the car, 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 car.
If you wish to increase your possibilities of being paired with a Waymo car, you may decide in by going to the Uber app, tapping Account > Settings > Autonomous autos (underneath Trip Preferences), after which hitting the toggle subsequent to Get extra Waymo rides.
Upcoming expansions
New Orleans
In November, Waymo mentioned it will start manually driving in New Orleans because it builds towards a robotaxi service there. It is not clear when precisely the general public will be capable to trip within the metropolis; it could possibly be in 2026, but it surely’s all depending on the corporate validating its know-how. Waymo is utilizing its fifth-generation driving know-how “as we lay the groundwork for our companies,” the corporate mentioned, with the choice so as to add future autos outfitted with its newer sixth-generation tech because it expands.
Minneapolis
Like New Orleans, Waymo in November mentioned it is kicking off handbook driving in Minneapolis in November. As soon as the corporate has validated its tech there, riders will be capable to climb aboard.
Las Vegas
In January, Waymo mentioned it might start testing with manually pushed autos 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 repeatedly visited Las Vegas over time and located the Waymo Driver simply adapts to the town,” Waymo mentioned in a blog post. “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 mentioned 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 house state of California.
“As we work to broaden our deployment permits, we’re partnering with native groups, coaching first responders, and deepening neighborhood relationships so we will finest serve the neighborhood and its guests once we open our doorways,” the corporate mentioned in a blog post.
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 blog post, Waymo mentioned it has “repeatedly 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 sit up for the Sixth-generation Waymo Driver navigating Detroit streets this winter.”
London
In mid-October, Waymo mentioned its autos 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 absolutely autonomous operations,” the corporate mentioned 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 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 12 months that it is expanding to Tokyo, although passengers cannot hail a trip there simply but.
Nashville
In September, Waymo mentioned it is partnering with Lyft to expand 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 autos 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 car upkeep and cleansing, whereas Waymo can be liable for the self-driving know-how.
Denver
Waymo is ready to reach in Denver this fall “to put the groundwork for a totally autonomous service sooner or later,” the corporate mentioned in an early September blog post. It’s going to deploy a blended fleet consisting of Jaguar I-Tempo autos with its fifth-generation Waymo Driver in addition to Zeekr RT autos with the sixth-gen Waymo Driver. That newer know-how “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 mentioned.
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 realm — from communities across the Lake to its notoriously moist climate.” It is not but clear when precisely that service will launch.
Dallas, Houston and San Antonio
Waymo is at present conducting early testing in Dallas, with plans to launch public rides through the Waymo app subsequent 12 months. The corporate is teaming up with Avis Funds Group, which can handle the fleet, together with car 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 Funds Group CEO Brian Choi mentioned in an announcement. “Collectively, we’re dedicated to creating scaled autonomous mobility a actuality for the individuals of Dallas, with plans to broaden to further cities within the close to future.”
Waymo can also be planning to launch in Houston and San Antonio subsequent 12 months. In November, Waymo mentioned it might start rolling out absolutely 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 deliver its autonomous tech again to New York, after having first operated by hand its autos 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 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 autos in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn till September. After that, it might probably 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 firms like Waymo supply in different elements of the nation, so Waymo continues to be unable to cost for rides. In June, Waymo mentioned it was “advocating for a change in state regulation that may permit for working a car 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 mentioned in July that it is bringing a restricted fleet of its autos to “essentially the most complicated elements” of Philadelphia, “together with downtown and freeways.” These autos could have human drivers behind the wheel as the corporate continues to develop its driving capabilities. There are not any rapid plans to launch a robotaxi service there.
Washington, DC
Waymo plans to begin 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 mentioned it was bringing extra autos to the town and dealing to scale its service all year long. In a blog post, Waymo mentioned it will “proceed to work intently with policymakers to formalize the laws wanted to function and not using a human behind the wheel within the District.”
Miami, Orlando and Tampa
You will even have to attend till 2026 to trip a Waymo in Miami. The corporate has been conducting weather testing within the lead-up to that eventual rollout, noting in a blog post, “Our earlier highway journeys to the Sunshine State’s difficult wet situations have been invaluable in advancing our autonomous driving capabilities.”
Waymo will collaborate with Moove, a fintech firm that gives car 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 mentioned in a blog post.
In November, Waymo started working absolutely autonomous rides in Miami with workers, because it prepares for a public launch subsequent 12 months.
It is also rolling out driverless rides in Orlando for workers because it will get able to launch its service there in 2026.
Waymo can also be kicking off handbook driving in Tampa, although it isn’t clear when individuals will be capable to hail a robotaxi trip there. It could possibly be in 2026, if the corporate has validated its self-driving tech within the metropolis.
Tokyo
In December, Waymo introduced it is expanding to Tokyo, making it the corporate’s first international 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 autos throughout seven Tokyo wards, together with Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa and Kōtō. It will permit 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 neighborhood teams right here in Tokyo,” Nicole Gavel, Waymo’s head of enterprise improvement and strategic partnerships, mentioned 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 autos
In August 2024, Waymo unveiled the sixth generation of its self-driving know-how, which strives to broaden the capabilities of its driverless fleet. Smarter sensors are supposed to assist the automobiles higher navigate in excessive climate, Waymo mentioned. The sixth-gen Driver will come aboard the all-electric Zeekr vehicle, which incorporates 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 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, in line with a weblog submit, “can be added to the Waymo One fleet over time.” The businesses added that they “plan to provide a fleet of Ioniq 5s outfitted with Waymo’s know-how in important quantity over a number of years to help Waymo One’s rising scale.” Testing with these autos will begin by late 2025 and change into accessible “within the years to comply with.”
Presently, on a regular basis riders cannot take a Waymo car on highways and freeways, however which will quickly change. The corporate is testing absolutely autonomous rides on freeways in Phoenix, as seen in an exclusive video shared with CNET in Could 2024. It is also now making absolutely autonomous freeway rides accessible to Waymo workers in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Space.
Waymo is working to broaden its autonomous driving tech into trucking as nicely, but it surely mentioned in 2023 that it is scaling back those efforts in the meanwhile, to deal with 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.”
