Waymo Expands Driverless Ride Service to Four New U.S. Cities

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Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company, has announced the expansion of its driverless ride service to four new U.S. cities: Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Orlando. The move marks one of Waymo's most expansive deployments to date, as the company aims to serve over one million rides per week by the end of 2026.

Why it matters

Waymo's expansion into these new markets is a significant step in the company's efforts to scale its driverless technology and build public trust in autonomous vehicles. However, the rollout comes amid heightened scrutiny of self-driving cars, including a recent incident in which a Waymo vehicle struck a child in Santa Monica, raising safety concerns.

The details

Select riders in the four new cities who have downloaded the Waymo app will receive an invitation to take their first local rides. Waymo plans to gradually open up the service to the broader public later this year as it scales its operations. The company already operates paid robotaxi services in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Nashville, and Miami.

• Waymo announced the expansion on February 24, 2026.
• The company aims to serve over one million rides per week by the end of 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Waymo plans to gradually open up the driverless ride service to the broader public in the four new cities later this year as it scales its operations.