Waymo has launched its robotaxi service to the public in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, marking a significant step in the company’s Waymo robotaxi expansion across the United States. The Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle operator now operates commercial services in 14 U.S. cities, with the company inviting riders on a rolling basis and gradually ramping up access in each new market.
Fleet Growth and New Vehicle Lineup
The Waymo robotaxi expansion has pushed the company’s fleet beyond 4,000 vehicles, combining its established fleet of self-driving Jaguar I-Pace hatchbacks with a new minivan called the Ojai. The Ojai, a Zeekr-made vehicle pronounced “oh-hi,” represents Waymo’s next-generation robotaxi platform and features the company’s sixth-generation self-driving system. In Denver and San Diego, the Ojai will be the only autonomous vehicle available to riders initially, though the current fleet of roughly 300 units is expected to grow rapidly as Waymo pursues both expansion and profitability.
The new minivan is designed to be cheaper to build, operate, and maintain compared to the I-Pace, positioning Waymo for more sustainable long-term growth. This follows a pattern of continuous refinement in the autonomous vehicle space, as covered earlier when Motorola Previews Android 15 Update and New Themed Icons introduced new themed experiences for mobile platforms.
Accelerating Market Leadership Amid Competition
Waymo’s aggressive Waymo robotaxi expansion strategy has solidified its position as the U.S. robotaxi market leader. The company’s growth trajectory accelerated significantly in March 2025, when it opened its service to riders in Austin through a partnership with Uber. Since then, Waymo has launched commercial operations in seven additional cities—Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, and San Antonio—demonstrating a relentless pace that shows no signs of slowing.
The expansion comes as Tesla works to close the gap in the robotaxi market, currently charging for rides in its driverless Tesla Model Y vehicles across Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Tesla is also developing the Cybercab, a custom-built two-seater with no steering wheel or pedals, to accelerate its competitive efforts. Meanwhile, Waymo’s ambitions extend beyond U.S. borders, with plans to launch robotaxi services in London and Munich. Last month, the Nevada Transportation Authority unanimously approved a permit allowing Waymo to operate up to 1,000 autonomous vehicles over the next year in Clark County, home to Las Vegas, as covered in discussions about Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs S25 FE: Explaining the $50 Price Increase and industry expansion trends.
المصدر: TechCrunch
