Waymo is taking a major step toward its 2026 commercial launch by removing safety operators from its Miami robotaxi fleet starting today. The company announced that fully autonomous rides will now be available to employees, with plans to deploy the same approach in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando in the coming weeks.
This rollout follows a string of rapid expansions throughout 2024. Just last week, Waymo hit a major milestone by offering paid autonomous rides on highways in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. Earlier this year, the company also launched operations in Atlanta and Austin, announced partnerships with Uber, and introduced a corporate travel program.
Competition in the robotaxi space is heating up. Amazon-owned Zoox revealed it will begin offering free rides in its custom-built robotaxis to early rider members in San Francisco, after launching a similar program in Las Vegas in September. Tesla is also running autonomous ride trials in Austin, although its vehicles still rely on human safety operators.
Despite the crowded field, Waymo appears confident. “We haven’t just built the technology; we’ve developed the definitive playbook for operating autonomous fleets,” the company wrote in its blog post.
Waymo plans an even larger expansion next year. In 2026, the company aims to launch services in Detroit, Las Vegas, San Diego, Nashville, and London. Testing is also underway in New York City, with a permit valid through the end of the year. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said at TechCrunch Disrupt that the goal is to reach 1 million rides per week by the end of 2026.
Related: Waymo Expands Robotaxi Reach with Airport Testing and Public Transit Deal
However, the scaling process hasn’t been flawless. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating Waymo after one of its vehicles in Atlanta was seen turning in front of a stopped school bus.
