Waymo is set to expand its robotaxi service to Miami, marking a significant step in its growth as competitors struggle to keep pace.
The company announced on Thursday that it will begin testing its autonomous Jaguars in Miami next year. This will provide the robotaxis with the necessary time to familiarize themselves with the dynamics of Florida’s largest city before they commence paid rides slated for 2026.
This move comes shortly after Waymo opened its robotaxi service to the general public across an extensive 80-square-mile area in Los Angeles, expanding its operations beyond its primary hubs in Phoenix and San Francisco.
Additionally, Waymo plans to deploy its fleets in Atlanta and Austin next year, thanks to a collaboration with ride-hailing giant Uber.
This expansion has prompted Waymo to partner with fleet management service Moove to manage the upkeep of its robotaxis in Phoenix, where it currently operates approximately 200 vehicles. Moove will also oversee the maintenance of Waymo’s fleet in Miami.
The steady growth into new territories reflects what was once a seemingly impossible vision when Google initiated a covert self-driving car project, originally called “Chauffeur,” back in 2009. This initiative later evolved into Waymo in 2016.
Despite the ongoing financial losses under its parent company, Alphabet Inc., Waymo’s service now handles over 150,000 rides each week and has maintained a solid track record with no major traffic accidents.
This performance has bolstered confidence in the future profitability of Waymo’s robotaxi services, which recently contributed to a successful fundraising effort of $5.6 billion from Alphabet and various key investors.
In contrast, Waymo’s competitor, Cruise, is still dealing with the aftermath of a serious incident last year in San Francisco, where one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a fatal encounter with a jaywalking pedestrian who was initially struck by a human-driven car.
Following this incident, California regulators suspended Cruise’s operational license, causing the company’s once-ambitious expansion agenda to be significantly curtailed by its parent company, General Motors.
Furthermore, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revisited his long-standing promise regarding Tesla’s robotaxi fleet, asserting in October that the electric vehicle company’s “Cybercabs” are expected to make their debut on U.S. roads by 2026.