A Waymo self-driving taxi moves through downtown San Francisco, California, on September 27, 2024. (REUTERS/Laure Andrillon/File Photo)
Alphabet’s autonomous taxi service, Waymo, is expanding to Washington, D.C., with plans to launch in 2026. The announcement, made on Tuesday, marks another major step in Waymo’s expansion across U.S. cities.
Jonathan Adkins, CEO of the Governor's Highway Safety Association, praised Waymo’s commitment to road safety. “I’ve seen firsthand how well the Waymo Driver navigates around pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users,” he said. He emphasized the company’s collaboration with safety organizations and first responders to ensure smooth integration into urban environments.
Waymo’s Growing Presence Across the U.S.
Currently, Waymo operates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, and Phoenix. It has also begun services in Austin and Atlanta through its partnership with Uber. Waymo plans to expand to Miami in 2026, partnering with mobility startup Moove.io to establish its presence there.
The company’s growth comes at a time when other autonomous vehicle firms struggle to gain traction. In 2024 alone, Waymo provided over 4 million paid rides, outpacing competitors in the self-driving taxi sector. Meanwhile, General Motors’ Cruise robotaxi division was shut down in December, and Tesla has yet to roll out its long-promised autonomous taxis. Amazon’s Zoox continues testing in several cities, with a planned rollout in Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Testing and Regulatory Approvals in D.C.
Waymo will conduct extensive testing on city roads to prepare for its official launch in Washington. Initially, human drivers will operate the vehicles to gather real-time data and assess driving conditions. These test runs will help refine Waymo’s self-driving technology to adapt to Washington’s unique traffic patterns.
Over the coming months, Waymo will engage with local communities, first responders, and policymakers to ensure a smooth transition. “We’ll continue introducing ourselves to D.C.’s communities and emergency responders,” the company stated. Additionally, Waymo will work closely with government officials to finalize regulations allowing fully driverless operations in the city.
Waymo has not disclosed further details about the D.C. launch, but its entry into the capital represents another milestone in its mission to revolutionize urban mobility with self-driving technology.
