Self-driving vehicles are slowly changing into less sci-fi and more real-world as corporations corresponding to Waymo quickly expand into more areas.
Waymo, which is owned by Google’s mother or father Alphabet, now operates absolutely autonomous rides in a handful of cities throughout the US, with dozens extra on the horizon, together with in worldwide places. It first rolled out in areas with extra temperate climates together with Phoenix and San Francisco. However Waymo’s newest autonomous driving tech has allowed it to broaden testing to cities with harsh winters, corresponding to Minneapolis and Detroit, in addition to wet cities like Seattle and London.
Passengers can hail a trip both through the Waymo app or Uber (or each), relying on town. In November, Waymo started driving passengers on freeways in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles, which can assist to hurry up journeys.
Rides for the general public at present occur aboard the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace, which makes use of Waymo’s fifth-generation autonomous driving know-how. However Waymo can also be deploying its modified Zeekr vehicle — dubbed Ojai — outfitted with the sixth-generation Waymo Driver, which faucets into AI developments to detect extra particulars and gauge objects in a wide range of lighting and climate situations, Waymo said in a blog post.
The self-driving firm has added several new cities to its roster in latest months. In an Aug. 29 blog post, Waymo famous it is “getting into a brand new chapter and accelerating our business growth.” Under, you will discover a full record of the place Waymo at present operates and plans to broaden.
Waymo’s driverless know-how evolves
Waymo has began absolutely autonomous operations with its newest, sixth-generation self-driving technology, which is constructed to deal with excessive winter climate whereas scaling again prices.
The up to date imaginative and prescient system on the sixth-generation Waymo Driver can discover particulars in deep shadows or whereas being hit with excessive beams, and it requires fewer cameras because of higher-resolution picture sensors. Waymo’s lidar sensors have gotten higher at portray a 3D image of the automobile’s environment in numerous climate situations, and the corporate’s newest radar sensors use new algorithms to raised observe the gap, pace and measurement of objects in rain or snow. That is vital because it expands to areas with variable and excessive climates, such because the Midwest.
Waymo is at present testing absolutely autonomous journeys utilizing the sixth-generation driver with workers within the San Francisco Bay Space and Los Angeles earlier than finally opening the service as much as the general public. The sixth-generation Waymo Driver is initially being deployed on the Ojai, a modified Zeekr automobile, earlier than finally making its approach to the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Waymo’s latest automobile, dubbed Ojai, is a modified Zeekr outfitted with the corporate’s newest sixth-generation self-driving know-how.
Waymo expands and grows
Waymo’s progress extends to its manufacturing amenities. In Might, the corporate stated it is opening a 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 current 1,500-vehicle fleet. Notably, Waymo indicated it obtained its “final delivery from Jaguar” final 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 know-how into new automobiles, beginning with the all-electric Zeekr RT, which Waymo has dubbed Ojai. In February 2026, Waymo stated it was starting absolutely autonomous operations with the sixth-generation driver aboard the Ojai, beginning with workers earlier than finally increasing to extra passengers.
In October 2024, 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 of summon these all-electric, autonomous automobiles utilizing the Waymo app. Testing with these automobiles started in 2025 they usually’ll turn out to be out there “within the years to observe.”
And in April 2025, Waymo stated it reached a preliminary agreement with Toyota to “discover a collaboration” geared towards growing autonomous driving tech, which may sometime be factored into personally owned automobiles.
Waymo is working to broaden its autonomous driving tech into trucking as properly, but it surely stated in 2023 that it is scaling back those efforts in the meanwhile 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 growth efforts.”
Waymo security and pushback
Waymo says it is pushed greater than 200 million absolutely autonomous miles as a part of its ride-hailing service, and completes over 400,000 paid journeys every week. I’ve hailed a number of rides myself in San Francisco, and as off-putting as it may possibly appear at first (particularly to see a steering wheel flip by itself), I rapidly adjusted, and it quickly felt like an extraordinary 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, a few of which it is addresed by updating its software. Its automobiles have additionally struggled to navigate construction zones, driven onto the path of an oncoming train and blocked traffic during a power outage in San Francisco. In January 2026, a Waymo robotaxi hit a young pedestrian close to a faculty in Santa Monica, California.
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 severe 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%).
In some cities, Waymo is out there on the Uber app.
Find out how to hail a Waymo trip
As Waymo continues to broaden and develop its self-driving tech, this is how and the place to summon a robotaxi when you’re in one of many few cities the place the corporate at present operates its fleet.
Watch this: Testing Waymo’s Secure Exit Characteristic in a Self-Driving Taxi
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.
It’s also possible to use the Uber app to summon one in every of Waymo’s automobiles in Phoenix. While you request an UberX, Uber Inexperienced, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical trip, you may have the selection to verify a Waymo trip when you’re matched.
Along with hailing a ride, you might also have your Uber Eats meal delivered by an autonomous car. When inserting an order within the Phoenix space, you may get a word that “autonomous automobiles could ship your order.” When the Waymo automobile arrives, take your cellphone with you to pop open the trunk and seize your supply. You’ll be able to decide out of this throughout checkout when 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 had “served tons of of hundreds of journeys to/from Sky Harbor, and it stays the only hottest Waymo vacation spot in Phoenix.”
Waymo added freeway access for passengers in Phoenix in November 2025.
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 2025, Waymo expanded its service space to greater than 260 sq. miles throughout the San Francisco Bay Space and added freeway access for passengers. Riders can now hail a driverless trip to San Jose Mineta International Airport in addition to San Francisco International Airport.
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 all through LA County, together with Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Inglewood, Silver Lake, Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park and Downtown LA.
There’s at present no Uber partnership in Los Angeles.
In November 2025, Waymo started rolling out freeway entry to LA riders.
Austin
Riders can hail a Waymo throughout a lot of Austin, together with neighborhoods corresponding to Crestview, Windsor Park and Franklin Park, in addition to places together with The Area and McKinney Falls State Park. There are plans for future expansions.
In Austin, the one approach 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 would be matched with a Waymo automobile — and you will not be upcharged. In case you’d somewhat not take a driverless trip, you possibly can swap to a regular one. Alternatively, if you wish to enhance your possibilities of being matched to a self-driving automobile, you possibly can 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 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 automobile (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 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 capabilities,” the businesses stated. The collaboration ought to make autonomous rides accessible to extra folks, so they will not must obtain a separate app to trip a robotaxi.
Atlanta
Waymo operates throughout many components of Atlanta, with plans for future expansions. As in Austin, you possibly can solely climb aboard a Waymo robotaxi through the Uber app. While you e book a trip by means of UberX, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical, you could 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’ll be able to 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 app and touchscreens contained in the automobile.
If you wish to enhance your possibilities of being paired with a Waymo automobile, you possibly can decide in by going to the Uber app, tapping Account > Settings > Autonomous automobiles (underneath Journey Preferences) after which hitting the toggle subsequent to Get extra Waymo rides.
Miami
Waymo opened as much as its first public riders in Miami in January 2026, beginning with a handful of individuals from its waitlist. Its present service space contains the Design District, Wynwood, Brickell and Coral Gables, with plans to broaden to Miami Worldwide Airport “quickly.”
Riders can use the Waymo app to hitch a trip, if they have been granted entry.
The corporate conducted weather testing within the lead-up to Miami’s 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 is collaborating 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 by means of the Waymo app, and stay accountable for validation and operation of the Waymo Driver,” the corporate stated in a blog post.
Dallas, Houston and San Antonio
In February 2026, Waymo expanded to Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Riders are being invited on a rolling foundation “to make sure a seamless expertise throughout our preliminary service areas,” as Waymo scales its operations and opens as much as all members of most of the people later in 2026, the corporate stated.
Riders can hail a trip utilizing the Waymo app. The corporate is teaming up with Avis Price range Group, which can handle Waymo’s fleet, together with automobile cleansing and upkeep.
In March 2026, Waymo expanded its service to San Antonio International Airport. Passengers are dropped off instantly outdoors the terminals, and pickups occur on the designated rideshare space.
Orlando
In February 2026, Waymo started permitting public riders to make use of its service in Orlando. Like the corporate’s debut in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, which occurred concurrently, Waymo is granting entry to riders on a rolling foundation because it scales its operations.
Riders can hail a trip utilizing the Waymo app.
Waymo automobiles can now drive passengers on freeways in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Upcoming expansions
Chicago
In February 2026, Waymo shared its growth into the Windy City. The corporate is beginning with guide mapping and knowledge assortment to put the groundwork for autonomous driving and ride-hailing down the highway.
Charlotte
Along with Chicago, Waymo in February 2026 stated it is heading to Charlotte. It will start with guide mapping and knowledge assortment earlier than providing autonomous driving.
Sacramento
Including to the record of Californian cities by which it operates, Waymo stated in February 2026 that it is heading to Sacramento. The corporate will begin by manually driving its Jaguar I-Tempo automobiles across the metropolis to raised perceive its format earlier than scaling to autonomous driving.
It isn’t clear when riders will be capable of hail a trip in Sacramento. Waymo says it has the mandatory DMV allow to function autonomously within the metropolis, but it surely hasn’t but obtained a business deployment allow from the California Public Utilities Fee, which is required for driverless operations.
Boston
Waymo is bringing its automobiles to Boston, however there isn’t any clear timeline but for when rides will probably be out there to the general public there. In a weblog put up, Waymo stated it is working with officers to get Massachusetts to legalize absolutely autonomous automobiles.
Baltimore
In December 2025, Waymo stated it was starting guide driving in Baltimore. It will progressively work towards autonomous rides.
St. Louis
Waymo additionally launched guide driving operations in St. Louis in December 2025, because it builds towards autonomous driving.
New Orleans
In November 2025, Waymo stated it might start guide driving in New Orleans because it builds towards a robotaxi service there. It isn’t clear when precisely the general public will be capable of trip within the metropolis; it may very well be in 2026, relying on when the corporate validates its know-how. Waymo is utilizing its fifth-generation driving know-how “as we lay the groundwork for our providers,” the corporate stated, with the choice so as to add future automobiles outfitted with its newer sixth-generation tech because it expands.
Minneapolis
Like New Orleans, Waymo started guide driving in Minneapolis in November 2025. As soon as the corporate has validated its tech there, riders will be capable of climb aboard.
Las Vegas
Waymo began autonomous testing with a driver behind the wheel in Las Vegas in December 2025.
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, and the newer Zeeker RT automobiles outfitted with Waymo’s newest, sixth-generation self-driving know-how.
“We have frequently visited Las Vegas over time and located the Waymo Driver simply adapts to town,” Waymo stated 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 properly to assist serve Las Vegas’s 40-plus million annual guests.”
Waymo stated it plans to make its ride-hailing service out there in Vegas in the summertime of 2026.
San Diego
San Diego is one in every of many cities 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 will finest serve the group and its guests after we open our doorways,” the corporate stated in a November 2025 blog post.
It will deploy each its Jaguar I-Tempo fleet and the newer Zeeker RT automobiles, that are outfitted with Waymo’s newest self-driving know-how.
Waymo says it plans to open up its autonomous service in San Diego in 2026.
Detroit
Not like most of the different cities Waymo is increasing to, Detroit presents the problem of harsh winter climate. Just like Las Vegas and San Diego, Waymo will deploy each its present Jaguar I-Tempo fleet and Zeeker RT automobiles, that are outfitted with its newest autonomous know-how.
In a November 2025 blog post, Waymo stated it has “frequently 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 stay up for the Sixth-generation Waymo Driver navigating Detroit streets this winter.”
London
In mid-October 2025, Waymo stated its automobiles are headed to London, making town its first European location. It will begin driving on town’s roads with people behind the wheel “whereas we lay the groundwork for absolutely autonomous operations,” the corporate stated in a press release. “We’ll 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 it introduced in 2024 that it is expanding to Tokyo, although passengers cannot hail a trip there simply but both.
Nashville
Waymo is partnering with Lyft to expand to Nashville. Waymo started driving in the city autonomously in February 2026, because it prepares to open to the general public later this yr. Riders will be capable of hail automobiles by means of 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 will probably be accountable for the self-driving know-how.
Denver
Waymo arrived in Denver within the fall of 2025 “to put the groundwork for a totally autonomous service sooner or later,” the corporate stated in an early September blog post. It will 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-generation 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 stated.
Seattle
In early September 2025, Waymo shared that it is heading to the Seattle metropolitan space, noting in a weblog put up that it “spent years attending to know the realm — from communities across the Lake to its notoriously moist climate.” It isn’t but clear when precisely that service will launch.
New York Metropolis
In June 2025, 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 components of downtown Brooklyn, in addition to in close by Jersey Metropolis and Hoboken. Waymo submitted a allow utility with the New York Metropolis Division of Transportation to function autonomously with a human behind the wheel, which was granted in late August.
Current legal guidelines within the state of New York do not allow the identical absolutely autonomous ride-hailing service that corporations like Waymo provide in different components of the nation, so Waymo continues to be unable to cost for rides. In June 2025, Waymo stated it was “advocating for a change in state regulation that might enable for working a automobile with no human behind the wheel,” including, “we now have each intention of bringing our absolutely autonomous ride-hailing service to town sooner or later.”
In February 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul withdrew a proposal that might have allowed robotaxis to function within the state outdoors of New York Metropolis, making a highway bump for Waymo’s growth plans.
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
Waymo stated in July 2025 that it is bringing a restricted fleet of its automobiles to “probably the most advanced components” of Philadelphia,”together with downtown and freeways.” And in December 2025, the corporate stated it is now working autonomously with a educated human specialist behind the wheel.
It is also kicking off guide driving in Pittsburgh earlier than finally constructing as much as autonomous driving.
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 2025 to check its autonomous driving tech. In late March, it stated it was bringing extra automobiles to town and dealing to scale its service all year long. In a blog post, Waymo stated it will “proceed to work intently with policymakers to formalize the rules wanted to function and not using a human behind the wheel within the District.”
Tampa
Waymo is beginning guide driving in Tampa, although it is not clear when folks will be capable of hail a robotaxi trip there. It may very well be later in 2026, if the corporate has validated its self-driving tech within the metropolis.
Tokyo
In December 2024, Waymo introduced it is expanding to Tokyo, making it the corporate’s first international location outdoors of Europe. Waymo is partnering with Japanese taxi service Nihon Kotsu and taxi app Go.
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. It will enable engineers to check and adapt Waymo’s autonomous driving tech to native highway options and 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 growth and strategic partnerships, stated in a press release.
It isn’t clear when riders will be capable of hitch a self-driving trip with Waymo in Tokyo.
