The Driverless Decade Arrives: Waymo's Robotaxis Are Spreading Across America

For years the driverless car felt perpetually just around the corner, promised but rarely seen. That is changing fast, as robotaxis move from curiosity to everyday transport in a growing list of American cities.

A rapidly widening map

The clearest sign of the shift is geography. Waymo, the leader in the field, is reported to be planning to open or expand service in cities including Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego and Washington in 2026.

That represents a big jump from its earlier footprint. The company recently added Houston, San Antonio and Orlando to a roster that already included plans for Detroit, Las Vegas, Nashville, San Diego and the nation's capital.

The raw coverage numbers tell the same story. Waymo is reported to have grown its service area to more than 1,400 square miles across 11 US cities, an increase of around 27 percent that now covers more ground than the entire state of Rhode Island.

Scale on the road

Behind the map lies a genuine operation at scale. Waymo is reported to have served more than 20 million trips and to run a fleet of roughly 3,000 robotaxis, no longer a handful of test vehicles but a working transport network.

Its ambitions for volume are striking. The company is reported to be targeting 1 million trips per week by the end of 2026, a figure that would place driverless rides firmly in the mainstream of how some cities move.

Cheaper and tougher technology

The hardware is evolving to make that possible. Waymo has begun deploying its sixth-generation driverless system, reported to use more cost-effective parts while handling harsher weather than earlier versions could manage.

Some of the new vehicles reflect global supply chains. The latest cars are reported to be built on a base model from the Chinese automaker Geely, a reminder that the race to automate driving spans manufacturers and continents alike.

Crossing borders

The expansion is not staying within American borders. Waymo is reported to be preparing for London, its first international market, which is readying itself under new United Kingdom rules governing autonomous vehicles.

Asia is on the agenda too. The company's first international steps are reported to include testing in Tokyo, where its vehicles are being mapped and adapted to local traffic patterns, road design and driving on the left.

The road ahead

Rivals are not standing still, with the likes of Tesla and the Amazon-owned Zoox chasing the same future. But for now the driverless taxi has quietly stopped being science fiction, and begun to look like a fixture of the modern city.