Waymo plans to expand its U.S. robotaxi network to Minneapolis, Tampa and New Orleans

Waymo expands to new U.S. cities

Waymo is growing rapidly and expanding to Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans, beginning with human-driven test rides. The Alphabet-owned company will follow its phased playbook, progressing from mapping and supervised testing to fully driverless rides once local validation and approvals are complete.

This expansion adds to a growing list of U.S. locations, showing Waymo’s goal to make autonomous rides widely available. Waymo currently serves riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, the San Francisco Bay Area, and, via Uber app access, in Austin and Atlanta

Testing before full autonomy

Waymo begins its expansion with manual driving in new cities to ensure rides are safe. Before undertaking any fully autonomous trips, the company maps streets, collects data, and carefully supervises early testing.

Safety and reliability remain the top priorities at every stage of the process. Public rides in these cities will only begin after thorough validation confirms the system is ready for real-world conditions.

Waymo’s growing fleet

Waymo currently operates over 2,500 vehicles across multiple U.S. markets, according to Reuters. Since launching in 2020, these cars have completed more than 10 million paid rides.

The service provides over 250,000 trips every week, showing growing adoption. Adding new cities allows even more passengers to experience safe, autonomous rides in their daily commutes.

Freeway routes added

Waymo has recently added freeway access in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, according to CNBC. This step marks a major milestone, enabling vehicles to drive safely at higher speeds on highways.

Highway trips make travel faster and longer rides more practical for riders. The company plans to gradually expand freeway access to additional locations over time as part of its growth strategy.

Preparing for harsh weather

Waymo is testing autonomous vehicles in snowy and cold regions, such as Minneapolis, according to CNBC. Waymo is testing winter performance (snow/ice) in Minneapolis; public rollout will depend on validation and approvals.

These tests ensure reliable service during harsh winter conditions. Safety remains the top priority before launching public rides in regions prone to extreme weather.

Competing in autonomous rides

Waymo faces competition from Tesla and Amazon-owned Zoox in the autonomous rides market, according to Reuters. Companies are racing to enhance technology, maintain safety, and comply with regulatory standards.

Waymo’s careful, phased expansion emphasizes safety and measured growth. Full commercial deployment is still rolled out city by city to ensure reliability for passengers.

2026 city expansion plans

Waymo has launched in Miami and plans to operate employee-only services in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando ahead of its public launch in 2026. Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans are expected to join this growing list, making autonomous rides more accessible.

This expansion brings driverless travel closer to everyday commuters in major cities. Each city will only launch after safety checks and technology validations confirm the system is ready for public use.

Partnering for local operations

Waymo works with local companies to manage fleet operations efficiently, according to TechCrunch. Uber integrates Waymo rides in Atlanta and Austin; Moove manages fleet operations in Phoenix and Miami, and Avis Budget Group will do so in Dallas.

These partnerships enable Waymo to scale its services more quickly while maintaining high-quality rides. Collaborating with trusted local operators helps make city launches safer and more manageable for both passengers and the company.

Zoox and Waymo competition

Amazon-owned Zoox offers free robotaxi rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco. The company lets early members experience autonomous trips while waiting for regulatory approvals to expand publicly.

Waymo continues to expand at a faster rate than Zoox, demonstrating its lead in commercial driverless operations. This head start positions Waymo to capture more riders and grow its paid services nationwide.

Tesla’s cautious robotaxi approach

Tesla is piloting supervised ride-hail services in Austin and parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, and it has obtained a permit to launch in Arizona, where in-vehicle safety monitors are required. Rides still require safety monitors in the driver’s seat as the technology undergoes testing.

Compared to Waymo, Tesla is taking a more cautious approach to scaling autonomous vehicles. Full public autonomy remains limited, showing the challenges involved in deploying driverless systems safely.

Step-by-step testing approach

Waymo begins city expansions with detailed street mapping and human-driven testing. Each new route is carefully evaluated to make sure the autonomous system performs correctly under real-world conditions.

Restricted access allows the company to validate technology before opening rides to the public. Full driverless trips are only launched after safety and performance standards are fully met, ensuring a secure and reliable experience for every passenger.

Regional city challenges

New Orleans is characterized by narrow streets and heavy pedestrian traffic, particularly in the French Quarter. Minneapolis poses a different challenge, with snow, ice, and harsh winter weather creating difficult conditions for autonomous vehicles.

Waymo adapts its technology to safely handle each city’s unique obstacles. Careful preparation and testing help ensure that rides remain reliable and secure for passengers in all environments, from busy urban streets to icy winter roads.

Want to know who’s leading the self-driving race in Texas? Read more in Waymo and Tesla battle for robotaxi dominance in Austin, Texas.

Waymo shaping the future

Waymo is the U.S. leader in paid, fully driverless rides. Expanding to more cities will bring autonomous travel closer to everyday life for commuters and casual riders alike.

The company’s careful testing, planning, and phased rollouts show a strong commitment to safety and reliability. Waymo’s growth could significantly transform how Americans think about commuting and ride-sharing in the near future, making self-driving vehicles a normal part of daily transportation.

Curious how Waymo responded to Tesla’s latest move? Find out in Waymo launches Atlanta robotaxis right after Tesla’s big reveal.

Would you ride a driverless car on the freeway? Share your thoughts below.

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.