Waymo Expands to 10 US Cities, Accelerating Autonomous Driving Race

Alphabet's self-driving company launches robotaxi services in major markets, cementing its lead in the emerging autonomous transportation industry.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving technology company, is rapidly expanding its footprint across the United States, now operating in 10 major metropolitan markets. This aggressive growth, fueled by a recent $16 billion funding round, positions Waymo as a leader in the emerging robotaxi industry, outpacing competitors like Tesla and Amazon's Zoox.

Why it matters

Waymo's systematic and rapid expansion is making the vision of autonomous transportation a reality for millions, with the company now operating fully driverless services in several major cities. This growth highlights the accelerating advancements in self-driving technology and the industry's race to deploy autonomous vehicles at scale.

The details

In a first for the company, Waymo simultaneously launched its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando this week. This expansion deepens Waymo's commitment to Texas and Florida, building on existing operations in Austin and Miami. Waymo's robotaxis utilize fully electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles equipped with the fifth generation of its autonomous driving system, featuring a sophisticated sensor suite that enables operation without human intervention.

  • Waymo launched its autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando this week.
  • Waymo currently operates in 10 US cities, including Austin and Miami.
  • Waymo has logged over 320 million kilometers of fully autonomous driving on public roads.

The players

Waymo

Waymo is Alphabet's autonomous driving technology company and a leader in the emerging robotaxi industry.

Tesla

Tesla is a competitor to Waymo in the autonomous driving space.

Amazon's Zoox

Zoox is an autonomous vehicle company owned by Amazon and a competitor to Waymo.

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What’s next

Waymo is exploring expansion to cities like Las Vegas, Washington, Detroit, and Boston, and considering international locations such as London and Tokyo.

The takeaway

Waymo's rapid expansion and leadership in the autonomous driving industry is a significant milestone, demonstrating the accelerating advancements in self-driving technology and the industry's race to deploy autonomous vehicles at scale.