23:56 05-11-2025

Waymo expands driverless taxi service to San Diego, Las Vegas and Detroit in 2026

Waymo, owned by Alphabet, has announced a sweeping expansion of its driverless taxi service. In 2026, the company’s robotaxis are set to launch in three additional U.S. cities—San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit.

To serve riders, Waymo will field a mixed fleet that pairs all-electric Jaguar I‑Pace vehicles running the fifth-generation Waymo Driver with new Zeekr RT models equipped with the sixth generation of its autonomous driving technology. The two-pronged setup comes across as a pragmatic way to scale service while easing the shift to the newer hardware and software.

The rollout is part of Waymo’s push to reach one million paid rides per week. The company already operates in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, where its robotaxis carry passengers without human drivers.

Entering the new markets is expected to bolster Waymo’s standing against other autonomous ride-hailing contenders and move the industry a step closer to wider use of fully automated 2026 vehicles.