Waymo Rolls Out Driverless Robotaxis in Miami, Eyes Expansion to Major Global Cities

Waymo Rolls Out Driverless Robotaxis in Miami, Eyes Expansion to Major Global Cities

Waymo, the autonomous driving subsidiary of Alphabet, has officially launched its commercial robotaxi service for the general public in Miami, Florida. The service currently covers a 60-square-mile area, with strategic plans to expand directly to Miami International Airport in the near future. This launch follows a rigorous testing phase that began last year.

Strategic Partnership and Operational Excellence

To ensure a seamless passenger experience, Waymo has partnered with Moove, a leading fleet management company. Under this collaboration, Moove will handle the day-to-day operations, including vehicle maintenance and deep cleaning, ensuring the driverless fleet remains in top-tier condition for Miami’s commuters.

Rapidly Growing Footprint

With the inclusion of Miami, Waymo now operates in six major U.S. markets, including:

• Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Miami.

2026 is set to be a year of massive scaling for the company. Waymo has revealed plans to launch services in several more U.S. cities, including Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, and Las Vegas.

Beyond American borders, Waymo is already taking its technology international. The company is currently conducting on-road testing in London and Tokyo, signaling its ambition to become a global leader in autonomous urban mobility.

• The choice of Miami is key because of its heavy traffic, unpredictable weather (frequent heavy rain), and large number of tourists. This will be a crucial test for Waymo's sensors and software in a more complex environment than Phoenix, where they have previously successfully implemented their systems.

• Recent data indicates that Waymo Driver systems have a 6.7 times lower accident rate than human drivers in terms of injuries, a key strength Waymo uses to gain approval from regulatory authorities for expanding its service area.

• In this expansion, Waymo is increasingly testing its Zeekr (a new electric vehicle design without a steering wheel), specifically designed as a "robotaxi" to maximize space and passenger comfort compared to modified SUVs.

• While Waymo is aggressively expanding, major competitors like Tesla (robotaxi/cybercab) and Cruise (GM) are resuming testing their vehicles after safety concerns, making 2026 a true year of the self-driving car war. 

 

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