Self-driving vehicles are slowly changing into less sci-fi and more real-world as firms like Waymo, the autonomous arm of Google’s guardian, Alphabet, develop into extra areas. On Thursday, the corporate mentioned it is starting 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 sixth-generation Waymo Driver builds upon the corporate’s present autonomous expertise by additional tapping into AI developments, Waymo mentioned in a weblog publish. As an illustration, the up to date imaginative and prescient system can discover particulars in deep shadows or whereas being hit with high-beams, and 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 circumstances, and the corporate’s newest radar sensors use new algorithms to higher monitor the gap, velocity and dimension of objects in rain or snow.
These capabilities can turn out to be useful as Waymo expands to extra cities with a wide range of climates, comparable to Minneapolis, Detroit and London. The sixth-generation Waymo Driver will first be deployed on the Ojai, a modified Zeekr vehicle, earlier than making its solution to the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Absolutely autonomous journeys utilizing the sixth-generation driver will kick off with staff within the San Francisco Bay Space and Los Angeles earlier than finally opening as much as the general public.
Waymo at the moment presents absolutely autonomous rides to most people within the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace within the following areas: Phoenix; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Atlanta; and Austin, Texas. The autos might be summoned both through the Waymo app or Uber, relying on town. In November, Waymo started driving passengers on freeways in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles. And in January, it opened as much as its first public riders in Miami because it progressively expands entry.
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.” You’ll find a full listing of the place Waymo at the moment operates and plans to develop under.
Waymo’s latest automobile, dubbed Ojai, is a modified Zeekr geared up with the corporate’s newest sixth-generation self-driving expertise.
Waymo expands and grows
Waymo’s development extends to its manufacturing services. In Might, the corporate mentioned it is opening a new, 239,000-square-foot autonomous automobile manufacturing unit within the Phoenix space. The plan is so as to add 2,000 extra absolutely autonomous Jaguar I-Tempo autos to its present 1,500-vehicle fleet. Notably, Waymo indicated it obtained its “final delivery from Jaguar” earlier this yr, because it plans for future iterations of its driverless rides.
Waymo added that the “facility’s versatile design” will permit it to combine its upcoming sixth-generation self-driving expertise into new autos, beginning with the all-electric Zeekr RT, which Waymo has dubbed Ojai. In February 2026, Waymo mentioned it is starting absolutely autonomous operations with the sixth-generation driver aboard the Ojai, beginning with staff earlier than finally increasing to extra passengers.
In October 2024, Waymo additionally introduced it is partnering with Hyundai to deliver the subsequent era of its expertise into Ioniq 5 SUVs. Within the years to return, riders will be capable of summon these all-electric, autonomous autos utilizing the Waymo app. Testing with these autos started in 2025 and so they’ll grow to be accessible “within the years to observe.”
And in April 2025, Waymo mentioned it reached a preliminary agreement with Toyota to “discover a collaboration” geared towards creating autonomous driving tech, which may sometime be factored into personally owned autos.
Waymo is working to develop its autonomous driving tech into trucking as nicely, but it surely mentioned in 2023 that it is scaling back those efforts in the intervening time, to give attention to ride-hailing with Waymo One. It famous, “Our ongoing funding in advancing Waymo Driver capabilities, particularly on freeways, will straight translate to trucking and profit its improvement efforts.”
Waymo security and pushback
The self-driving firm says it is pushed practically 200 million miles on public roads, and completes over 400,000 absolutely autonomous rides every week in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Atlanta and Miami. I’ve hailed a number of rides myself in San Francisco, and as off-putting as it may well appear at first (particularly to see a steering wheel flip by itself), I shortly adjusted, and it quickly felt like an bizarre experience.
That is to not say there hasn’t been pushback as Waymo rolls out to extra cities. The corporate’s autos have been concerned in a handful of high-profile collisions, together with one with a bicyclist in San Francisco and one other with a towed pickup truck in Phoenix. (Waymo recalled and updated its software to handle the difficulty.) Its autos 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, a Waymo robotaxi hit a young pedestrian close to a college 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 expertise had 88% fewer crashes resulting in severe accidents or worse and 78% fewer injury-causing crashes, in contrast with “a median 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 offered on the Uber app.
Learn how to hail a Waymo experience
As Waymo continues to develop and develop its self-driving tech, this is how and the place to summon a robotaxi in case you’re in one of many few cities the place the corporate at the moment operates its fleet.
Watch this: Testing Waymo’s Protected Exit Function 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 experience, obtain the Waymo app on iOS or Android. The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days every week.
You may as well use the Uber app to summon one among Waymo’s autos in Phoenix. Once you request an UberX, Uber Inexperienced, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical experience, you will have the selection to verify a Waymo experience in case you’re matched.
Along with hailing a ride, you may additionally have your Uber Eats meal delivered by an autonomous car. When inserting an order within the Phoenix space, you may get a be aware that “autonomous autos could ship your order.” When the Waymo automobile arrives, take your cellphone with you to pop open the trunk and seize your supply. You may decide out of this throughout checkout in case you’d somewhat have a human ship your meals.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport grew to become the primary main airport to supply absolutely autonomous Waymo rides to its terminals. Waymo mentioned in September 2025 that it had “served a whole lot of 1000’s of journeys to/from Sky Harbor, and it stays the one hottest Waymo vacation spot in Phoenix.”
Waymo added freeway access for passengers in Phoenix in November.
San Francisco Bay Space
San Francisco adopted go well with 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 experience anytime. The service additionally operates 24 hours a day, seven days every week. There’s at the moment no Uber partnership in San Francisco.
In November, 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 experience 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 experience throughout practically 120 sq. miles of LA County, together with Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Inglewood, Silver Lake, Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park and Downtown LA, and alongside all of Sundown Boulevard.
There’s at the moment no Uber partnership in Los Angeles.
In November, Waymo started rolling out freeway entry to LA riders.
Austin
Riders can hail a Waymo throughout 90 sq. miles of Austin, together with neighborhoods like Crestview, Windsor Park and Franklin Park and areas like The Area and McKinney Falls State Park. There are greater than 100 Waymo autos within the metropolis, with plans for additional growth.
In Austin, the one solution to hail a Waymo experience 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 experience, you’ll be able to change to a regular one. However, if you wish to enhance your probabilities of being matched to a self-driving automobile, you’ll be able to go to Account > Settings > Autonomous autos, then hit the toggle subsequent to Get extra Waymo rides.
Unlock the door, pop open the trunk and begin the experience from the Uber app. You will nonetheless be requested to charge your experience on the finish, however you will not be requested to tip.
If there are any points, riders can entry human assist 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 shortly summon buyer assist).
As a part of the Uber partnership, Uber will handle duties like automobile cleansing and restore, whereas “Waymo will proceed to be chargeable for the testing and operation of the Waymo Driver, together with roadside help and sure rider assist capabilities,” the businesses mentioned. The collaboration ought to make autonomous rides accessible to extra individuals, so they will not need to obtain a separate app to experience a robotaxi.
Atlanta
Waymo operates throughout 65 sq. miles of Atlanta, with plans for future expansions. As in Austin, you’ll be able to solely climb aboard a Waymo robotaxi through the Uber app. Once you guide a experience by means of UberX, Uber Consolation or Uber Consolation Electrical, you may be paired with a Waymo automobile at no extra price. You will have the choice to simply accept or decline the driverless experience every time.
You may unlock the automobile, pop the trunk, and begin the journey all from the Uber app, and you’ll entry human assist 24/7 through the app and touchscreens contained in the automobile.
If you wish to enhance your probabilities of being paired with a Waymo automobile, you’ll be able to decide in by going to the Uber app, tapping Account > Settings > Autonomous autos (below Journey Preferences), after which hitting the toggle subsequent to Get extra Waymo rides.
Waymo autos can now drive passengers on freeways in Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Upcoming expansions
Sacramento
Including to the listing of Californian cities by which it operates, Waymo mentioned in February that it is heading to Sacramento. The corporate will begin by manually driving its Jaguar I-Tempo autos across the metropolis to get a greater understanding of the format, earlier than scaling to autonomous driving.
It isn’t clear when riders will be capable of hail a experience in Sacramento. Waymo says it has the required 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 autos to Boston, however there’s not but a transparent path for when rides can be accessible to the general public there. In a weblog publish, Waymo mentioned it is working with officers to get Massachusetts to legalize absolutely autonomous autos.
Baltimore
In December, Waymo mentioned it was starting handbook driving in Baltimore. It will progressively work towards autonomous rides.
St. Louis
Waymo additionally launched handbook driving operations in St. Louis in December, because it builds towards autonomous driving.
New Orleans
In November, Waymo mentioned it could start handbook 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 experience within the metropolis; it may very well be in 2026, relying on when the corporate validates its expertise. Waymo is utilizing its fifth-generation driving expertise “as we lay the groundwork for our providers,” the corporate mentioned, with the choice so as to add future autos geared up with its newer sixth-generation tech because it expands.
Minneapolis
Like New Orleans, Waymo started handbook driving in Minneapolis in November. As soon as the corporate has validated its tech there, riders will be capable of climb aboard.
Las Vegas
In January, Waymo mentioned it could start testing with manually pushed autos in 10 new cities, beginning with Las Vegas and San Diego. And in November, it introduced that its robotaxi service will formally develop to these cities in 2026.
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 autos geared up with Waymo’s newest, sixth-generation self-driving expertise.
“We have usually visited Las Vegas over time and located the Waymo Driver simply adapts to town,” Waymo mentioned 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 nicely to assist serve Las Vegas’s 40-plus million annual guests.”
Waymo mentioned it plans to make its ride-hailing service accessible in Vegas in the summertime of 2026. It began autonomous testing with a driver behind the wheel simply earlier than this yr’s CES.
San Diego
San Diego is one among many cities Waymo is increasing to in its dwelling state of California.
“As we work to develop our deployment permits, we’re partnering with native groups, coaching first responders, and deepening group relationships so we will greatest serve the group and its guests after we open our doorways,” the corporate mentioned in a blog post.
It will deploy each its Jaguar I-Tempo fleet and the newer Zeeker RT autos geared up with Waymo’s newest self-driving expertise.
Waymo says it plans to open up its autonomous service in San Diego in 2026.
Detroit
Not like lots of the different cities Waymo is increasing to, Detroit presents the problem of harsh winter climate. Much like Las Vegas and San Diego, Waymo will deploy each its present Jaguar I-Tempo fleet and Zeeker RT autos geared up with its newest autonomous expertise.
In a blog post, Waymo mentioned it has “usually 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 sit up for the Sixth-generation Waymo Driver navigating Detroit streets this winter.”
London
In mid-October, Waymo mentioned its autos 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 mentioned 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 carefully with native and nationwide leaders to safe the required 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 experience there simply but both.
Nashville
Waymo is partnering with Lyft to expand to Nashville. Waymo started driving in the city autonomously in February, because it prepares to open to the general public later this yr. Riders will be capable of hail autos 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 can be chargeable for the self-driving expertise.
Denver
Waymo arrived in Denver within the fall “to put the groundwork for a completely autonomous service sooner or later,” the corporate mentioned in an early September 2025 blog post. It will deploy a blended fleet consisting of Jaguar I-Tempo autos with its fifth-generation Waymo Driver in addition to Zeekr RT autos with the sixth-generation Waymo Driver. That newer expertise “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 mentioned.
Seattle
In early September, Waymo shared that it is heading to the Seattle metropolitan space, noting in a weblog publish 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.
Dallas, Houston and San Antonio
Waymo is at the moment conducting early testing in Dallas, with plans to launch public rides through the Waymo app subsequent yr. The corporate is teaming up with Avis Funds Group, which can handle the fleet, together with automobile cleansing and upkeep.
“Our partnership with Waymo marks a pivotal milestone in our evolution, from a rental automobile firm to a number one supplier of fleet administration, infrastructure and operations to the broader mobility ecosystem,” Avis Funds Group CEO Brian Choi mentioned in a press release. “Collectively, we’re dedicated to creating scaled autonomous mobility a actuality for the individuals of Dallas, with plans to develop to extra cities within the close to future.”
Waymo can also be planning to launch in Houston and San Antonio subsequent yr. In November, Waymo mentioned it could start rolling out absolutely autonomous rides within the three Texas cities for workers, earlier than launching for the general public in 2026.
In January, Waymo shared it is beginning employee testing at Dallas Love Discipline Airport and San Antonio Worldwide Airport.
New York Metropolis
In June, Waymo shared plans to deliver its autonomous tech again to New York, after having first operated by hand its autos there in 2021. It as soon as once more started driving manually within the Large 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 software with the New York Metropolis Division of Transportation to function autonomously with a human behind the wheel, which was granted in late August.
As a part of the New York Metropolis allow, Waymo can check as much as eight autonomous autos in Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn till September. After that, it may well apply for an extension to the pilot testing interval.
Current legal guidelines within the state of New York do not allow the identical absolutely autonomous ride-hailing service that firms like Waymo provide in different components of the nation, so Waymo continues to be unable to cost for rides. In June, Waymo mentioned it was “advocating for a change in state legislation that might permit for working a automobile with no human behind the wheel,” including, “now we have each intention of bringing our absolutely autonomous ride-hailing service to town sooner or later.”
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
Waymo mentioned in July that it is bringing a restricted fleet of its autos to “essentially the most complicated components” of Philadelphia,”together with downtown and freeways.” And in December, the corporate mentioned it is now working autonomously with a skilled human specialist behind the wheel.
It is also kicking off handbook 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 to check its autonomous driving tech. In late March, it mentioned it was bringing extra autos to town and dealing to scale its service all year long. In a blog post, Waymo mentioned it will “proceed to work carefully with policymakers to formalize the laws wanted to function with out a human behind the wheel within the District.”
Miami, Orlando and Tampa
In January, Waymo started opening up absolutely autonomous rides to the general public in Miami. “With practically 10,000 residents already signed up, we can be inviting new riders on a rolling foundation to make sure a seamless expertise throughout our preliminary 60-square-mile service space,” the corporate mentioned in a blog post. The preliminary service space contains the Design District and Wynwood, in addition to Brickell and Coral Gables. Waymo plans to develop to Miami Worldwide Airport “quickly.”
The corporate conducted weather testing within the lead-up to Miami’s rollout, noting in a blog post, “Our earlier street journeys to the Sunshine State’s difficult wet circumstances 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, services and charging infrastructure. In Phoenix after which Miami, “Waymo will proceed to supply our service by means of the Waymo app, and stay chargeable for validation and operation of the Waymo Driver,” the corporate mentioned in a blog post.
Waymo can also be rolling out driverless rides in Orlando for workers because it prepares to launch its service there this yr.
Waymo can also be beginning handbook driving in Tampa, although it isn’t clear when individuals will be capable of hail a robotaxi experience there. It may very well be 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. Waymo is partnering with Japanese taxi service Nihon Kotsu and taxi app Go.
Waymo says skilled Nihon Kotsu drivers will manually drive its autos throughout seven Tokyo wards, together with Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa and Kōtō. It will permit engineers to check and adapt Waymo’s autonomous driving tech to native street options and site visitors.
“In Tokyo, we’re abiding by the identical steadfast ideas 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 improvement and strategic partnerships, mentioned in a press release.
It isn’t clear when riders will be capable of hitch a self-driving experience with Waymo in Tokyo.
