Waymo taps Avis to manage robotaxi fleet in Dallas

Waymo has announced its intention to introduce a robotaxi service in Dallas next year, marking another expansion in its commercial operations, which already includes cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. This latest venture will see Waymo partnering with Avis Budget Group to oversee its fleet of all-electric, autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. Under this collaboration, Avis will take charge of essential depot operations, which include the charging and maintenance of the vehicles. Passengers will be able to summon a robotaxi via the Waymo app, enhancing accessibility to autonomous transport. This isn't Waymo's first partnership; previously, the company has collaborated with firms like Uber in Austin and Atlanta, as well as Moove in Phoenix. However, this marks the first time a rental car company has joined forces with Waymo to manage its fleet, indicating a significant shift in operational strategy. Chris Bonelli, a spokesperson for Waymo, emphasized that Avis will play a crucial role in helping the company expedite the scaling of its technology into new markets. Both Waymo and Avis Budget Group have plans to expand their partnership into additional cities in the future. The announcement of the Dallas launch comes as no surprise to those familiar with Waymo’s activities, as the company had previously conducted a “road trip” to the city earlier this year. This initiative involved mapping the area and performing initial testing with its sensor-equipped vehicles. Following this groundwork, Waymo has begun testing its autonomous cars on public roads, accompanied by a human safety operator. As is customary in its expansion strategy, Waymo will gradually transition to fully autonomous testing in Dallas once its technology has been thoroughly validated on local streets. While specific launch dates and the size of the initial robotaxi fleet have not been disclosed, Bonelli mentioned that Waymo aims to scale the fleet up to hundreds of vehicles in collaboration with Avis. Brian Choi, CEO of Avis Budget Group, described the partnership as a significant milestone in the company’s transformation from a traditional rental car service to a key player in fleet management and operations within the broader mobility ecosystem. Currently, Waymo operates its services in five cities: Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area, with plans to launch additional robotaxi services in Washington, D.C., and Miami next year.