Waymo says it will launch in more Texas and Florida cities in 2026

Waymo has announced its plans to extend its robotaxi services to additional cities in Texas and Florida, aiming for a launch in 2026. The company, owned by Alphabet, revealed that it intends to operate fully autonomous vehicles—without human drivers—in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Miami, and Orlando in the near future. This expansion marks a significant milestone as Waymo enters a new phase of commercial scaling, with plans to double the number of cities where it operates without human assistance. Saswat Panigrahi, Waymo's Chief Product Officer, expressed excitement about this development in a recent statement, emphasizing the company's commitment to broadening its reach. Previously, Waymo had confirmed its intention to launch services in Dallas and Miami by 2026, but this announcement introduces new cities into its expansion plans. Initially, the company will offer fully autonomous rides to its employees in the new markets, gradually transitioning to public service in the following year. In addition to the Texas and Florida expansions, Waymo has also outlined plans to roll out its robotaxi service in cities like Detroit, Las Vegas, Nashville, San Diego, Washington, D.C., and even London by 2026. Moreover, Waymo has begun testing its vehicles in New York City and Tokyo, demonstrating its commitment to global expansion. Recently, the company started offering freeway routes in markets such as San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, with plans to gradually increase the availability of these services. Currently, Waymo operates its paid robotaxi service in cities like Austin, San Francisco, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, having provided over 10 million rides since its launch in 2020. This announcement aligns with the recent news that Zoox, a subsidiary of Amazon, has begun allowing select users in San Francisco to hail its driverless vehicles, further indicating the growing competition in the autonomous vehicle space.