From 5 to 12 Cities—Fast
Waymo is stepping on the accelerator. After years of cautious rollout, the Alphabet-owned self-driving company is expanding its driverless taxi service to 12 U.S. cities by the end of 2026.
The newest cities joining the list? San Diego, Detroit, and Las Vegas.
Waymo already operates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta—now also through Uber. With hundreds of thousands of paid rides logged weekly, it’s not just testing anymore. It’s working.
Snow, Ice… and Detroit
Detroit is a big leap. It’s Waymo’s first commercial market that regularly deals with snow and ice. But they’ve been preparing.
Testing in Michigan’s icy Upper Peninsula gave Waymo valuable real-world data for its all-weather driving system. The company says it’s ready for the challenge—and ready to scale.
Waymo Is Winning the Race
While rivals stall, Waymo keeps moving. Cruise shut down. Zoox hasn’t launched. Tesla’s robotaxi dreams remain under human supervision.
That leaves Waymo with a clear lead in America’s autonomous taxi game. And Uber wants in—partnering with Waymo to offer driverless rides through its own app.
How Do Waymo’s Robotaxis Stay Charged?
Behind the scenes, charging infrastructure is critical to scaling robotaxi fleets. Waymo’s all-electric vehicles—primarily Jaguar I-PACE SUVs—rely on consistent, fast charging to stay on the road.
In most cities, Waymo partners with third-party charging networks and uses dedicated fleet depots where vehicles can charge and self-clean between rides. These hubs are built for efficiency, often using DC fast chargers to minimize downtime.
As Waymo expands, so does its investment in automated fleet management, with future plans hinting at robotic charging and advanced energy management systems. It’s not just about autonomy on the road—it’s also about autonomy in operations.
Miami to London? Yes, Really.
Waymo’s roadmap doesn’t stop at U.S. borders. The company also plans to launch in Miami, Dallas, D.C., Nashville, and London, marking its first international move.
Beyond that, it’s laying groundwork in Seattle, Denver, and even New York City, the ultimate proving ground for any self-driving tech.
The Bottom Line
This isn’t a test anymore. Waymo’s self-driving taxis are shifting from novelty to normal. And with expansion this fast, your city might be next.
