Waymo Adds 4 Cities to Robotaxi Network as Employee-Only Rides Begin
Updated
Updated · CNET · Jul 8
Waymo Adds 4 Cities to Robotaxi Network as Employee-Only Rides Begin
3 articles · Updated · CNET · Jul 8
Summary
Denver, San Diego, Las Vegas and Tampa are the latest Waymo markets, with the initial driverless service limited to Alphabet employees before a broader public rollout.
Waymo said its newest Hyundai Ioniq 5 will first run with a specialist behind the wheel to validate hardware and software, while its fleet still relies mainly on electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and the newer Ojai model.
Nearly 4,000 Waymo vehicles were swept into a recent NHTSA recall after entering construction zones in Phoenix and San Francisco, and another recall in May followed reports of cars driving into flooded roads.
The expansion still pushes Waymo deeper into the U.S. robotaxi race as it prepares launches in New York, Chicago, London and Tokyo and competes with Amazon-owned Zoox.
Waymo has firmly established itself as a leader in the autonomous vehicle industry, recently securing a $16 billion investment led by major firms and reaching a valuation of $126 billion. This financial boost is fueling Waymo’s ambitious plans to expand its commercial robotaxi service and conduct extensive road testing with safety drivers in over 20 cities throughout 2026. By tripling its ride volume to 15 million in 2025, Waymo is strengthening its lead over competitors like Amazon’s Zoox and Tesla’s robotaxi service. These strategic moves highlight Waymo’s rapid growth and its commitment to scaling safe, driverless transportation across the U.S. and beyond.