Waymo Plans Robotaxi Launch in Dallas, Expands US Autonomous Fleet by 2026

Alphabet's Waymo is set to launch its autonomous robotaxi service in Dallas next year, marking a significant expansion of its presence in the U.S. market. The service will be available through the Waymo app, with fleet management and maintenance handled by Avis Budget Group, a first-time rental car partner for Waymo. This move follows Waymo's earlier expansions to cities such as Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, where it has already provided over 250,000 rides and currently conducts more than 250,000 paid weekly trips. The Dallas rollout is part of Waymo's broader strategy to scale its technology efficiently with partner collaboration, aiming to expand to hundreds of vehicles over time and to additional cities in the future. Waymo's advanced autonomous system, the Waymo Driver, powers fully driverless operations with its electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles, distinguishing it from competitors like Tesla, Amazon's Zoox, and others still developing commercial autonomous ride-hailing services. This expansion positions Waymo as a leader in the autonomous vehicle industry, with analysts forecasting positive growth prospects for its parent company, Alphabet Inc.