Alphabet-owned Waymo is accelerating its push to bring autonomous ride-hailing to more U.S. cities, announcing this week that it has begun testing robotaxis in Denver, Colorado, and Seattle, Washington. The move marks the latest step in the company’s broader strategy to expand its Waymo One service beyond its existing markets.
Human Drivers at the Wheel—for Now
The testing phase in both cities will start conservatively. Waymo confirmed that its vehicles will initially be driven manually by company safety drivers. These employees will oversee the vehicles’ steering and braking while the company validates its technology and operations under local driving conditions. Once data collection and safety evaluations are complete, Waymo intends to roll out fully autonomous rides, pending regulatory approval.
The test fleet will include up to 12 vehicles in each city, split between the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs and Geely’s Zeekr autonomous vans. These vehicles have already been deployed in other Waymo markets, but Denver and Seattle present unique challenges due to variable weather, including snow, heavy rain, and strong winds.
Successfully navigating these conditions would be a critical milestone for scaling robotaxi operations in regions beyond fair-weather cities like Phoenix.
Expanding Beyond Existing Markets
Waymo already operates commercial robotaxi services in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta, with rides available either through its dedicated Waymo One app or, in select cities, via the Uber app. In June, the company deepened its partnership with Uber by integrating its fleet into the ride-hailing giant’s Atlanta and Austin operations.
The company is also running tests in New York City, one of the most challenging markets in the U.S., after securing permits last month. Additional launches are planned in Dallas, Miami, and Washington, D.C., as Waymo works toward its stated goal of entering 10 new markets by the end of 2025.
