Observed Signal · Feb 24, 2026 · Service Launch · Source: TechCrunch · Impact: 4/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to Ten U.S. Cities!
Waymo has opened its robotaxi service to the public in four additional U.S. cities — Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando — bringing its footprint to ten U.S. cities. The company will invite select riders via the Waymo app and scale availability over time, starting with dozens of vehicles in each new market. Waymo currently operates about 3,000 robotaxis across six markets and reported more than 400,000 rides per week in its last public update; it aims to exceed one million rides per week by year-end. The company recently raised an additional $16 billion in a funding round that values it at $126 billion. Regulators including the NHTSA and NTSB are investigating safety incidents involving Waymo vehicles.
Large funding round valuing Waymo at $126B plus rapid expansion of public robotaxi services to major U.S. cities meaningfully advances commercial AV deployment and will affect operators, regulators, and partners across the mobility and adtech ecosystems.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Waymo opened public robotaxi services in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, increasing its U.S. presence to ten cities.
- Waymo raised an additional $16 billion in a funding round led by Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global, and Sequoia Capital, valuing the company at $126 billion.
- Waymo operates about 3,000 robotaxis across six markets and will begin new-city operations with dozens of vehicles, scaling over time.
- Waymo reported providing more than 400,000 rides per week in its last update and is targeting more than one million rides per week by the end of the year.
- U.S. safety regulators have opened investigations: the NHTSA probed a collision in Santa Monica and the NTSB is examining Waymo vehicle interactions with school buses.
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Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to Four New Cities
Waymo expanded its robotaxi service to "select riders" in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando, bringing its U.S. footprint to 10 cities. Invitations will roll out via the Waymo app, with general availability in these markets targeted by the end of 2026. The company will deploy its fifth-generation driver system in Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in the newly launched markets; Waymo has also been testing a sixth-generation driver on Geely-built Ojai cars for employees and guests in California. Waymo reported raising a $16 billion funding round that valued the company at $126 billion and said it operates just over 3,000 autonomous vehicles. Regulators have opened investigations into Waymo vehicle behavior around schools and buses, and the company reported providing more than 400,000 paid trips per week and over 20 million lifetime trips.
Waymo Scales Robotaxi Fleet Across US
Waymo's commercial robotaxi service has expanded from three cities in September 2024 to 15 U.S. cities in 2026, averaging 500,000 paid rides weekly. Analysis of fleet data reveals concentration in California and Texas, with about 80% of its roughly 4,000 robotaxis. Texas fleet surged by 49% in three weeks, reaching 1,102 vehicles, driven by influx of Zeekr RT minivans branded 'Ojai'. The Ojai, built on Zeekr's SEA-M platform, is central to Waymo's cost reduction strategy, though U.S. tariffs on Chinese-built vehicles raise costs. Waymo plans to import 5,100 Ojais by year-end, expanding to Florida, Las Vegas, and other markets.
Waymo Launches Public Robotaxi Service in Las Vegas
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, has begun opening its robotaxi service to the public in Las Vegas, following final approval from Nevada regulators. The service will initially operate with 'dozens' of its new Ojai minivan robotaxis, covering an area including the Strip and Boulder Junction. Public riders can request an invite, with a typical full public rollout within one to two months. This marks Waymo's 15th market, and comes as competitors Tesla, Zoox, and Motional plan or operate services in the same city. Waymo is authorized to deploy up to 1,000 vehicles in Clark County over the next year, while Tesla and Uber have permits for 5,000 and 1,000 respectively, potentially leading to a saturated market.
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