Waymo currently operates hundreds of robotaxis, providing tens of thousands of driverless taxi rides each week in San Francisco (since August 2023), Los Angeles (since March 2024), and Phoenix (since 2018/19). The Alphabet-owned startup is planning to expand its commercial services to three additional markets: Austin and Atlanta later this year, and Miami in 2026.
Goldman Sachs analysts Eric Sheridan and Ben Miller recently updated clients on Waymo’s progress in the autonomous taxi space with their report titled “Where is Waymo Today?“
The analysts provided a timeline of Waymo’s expansion plans through 2026, highlighting the company’s growth from its inception in 2009 as Google’s self-driving car project to becoming a leader in autonomous ride-hailing services. Waymo currently serves 175,000 paid rides per week, a significant increase from just 10,000 rides in May 2023.
Waymo’s commercial operations are active in three US markets, with plans to launch in three more markets by 2026. Google’s CEO mentioned at a conference in December 2024 that Waymo could potentially be operating in 10 US markets by the end of 2025. Additionally, Waymo announced its first international road trip in Tokyo in early 2025 to map key areas of the city.
Waymo’s user base has grown significantly over the past 18 months, reflecting the increasing popularity and adoption of autonomous ride-hailing services.
However, the expansion of Waymo’s commercial autonomous ride-hailing service has also led to concerns and backlash regarding traffic incidents. It is a phenomenon that has been documented and discussed extensively.
Loading…