Waymo has launched paid driverless rides in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, expanding its commercial robotaxi service to 14 U.S. cities and bringing its newest autonomous vehicle into wider use.
The September 1 launch follows Waymo’s expansion into the three cities in July, when fully autonomous rides were initially limited to employees. Las Vegas was part of that earlier rollout but is not included in this week’s public expansion.
Access will initially be limited. Tens of thousands of people have already downloaded the Waymo app in the three markets, with a subset receiving invitations on a rolling basis. Waymo says the gradual rollout is designed “to ensure a seamless experience” before opening rides more broadly.
Each city will start with dozens of robotaxis before growing to “hundreds over time.” The expansion adds roughly 150 square miles to Waymo’s overall service territory. Waymo says this is the first time its sixth-generation Driver is being deployed at scale.
Denver and San Diego riders will only be able to book the new Ojai robotaxi. Based on a Zeekr minivan platform and assembled in Arizona, the Ojai has automatic sliding doors, large passenger displays, and Waymo’s sixth-generation Driver. It will be the only Waymo vehicle carrying passengers in those two cities.
Waymo’s fleet now exceeds 4,000 vehicles nationwide, including around 300 Ojai minivans alongside its larger Jaguar I-PACE fleet. The company says it is already providing more than 500,000 rides a week and is targeting one million weekly trips by the end of 2026.
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