Waymo expands robotaxi service to Denver, San Diego and Tampa

Waymo has started offering its robotaxi service to the public in Denver, San Diego and Tampa. The rollout expands the Alphabet-owned company’s commercial operations to 14 U.S. cities.

Access will open on a rolling basis, with Waymo inviting riders gradually and ramping up service over time. That measured approach follows the company’s usual commercial playbook for entering new markets.

Waymo’s expansion has pushed its fleet of self-driving Jaguar I-Pace hatchbacks and its new Ojai minivan to more than 4,000 vehicles. In Denver and San Diego, the Zeekr-made Ojai will be the only autonomous vehicle available to riders.

The Ojai uses Waymo’s sixth-generation self-driving system and is designed to be cheaper to build, operate and maintain. The Ojai fleet is currently small, at about 300 vehicles, but TechCrunch reports it is expected to grow quickly as Waymo pursues profitability alongside expansion.

The launches come as Tesla pushes deeper into the robotaxi market. Tesla now charges for rides in driverless Model Y vehicles in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Orlando and Tampa, though service in some markets is limited.

Tesla is also banking on its Cybercab, a custom-built two-seater without a steering wheel or pedals, to accelerate its efforts. Waymo’s broader city footprint and continued fleet growth underscore the competitive stakes in U.S. autonomous ride-hailing.

Waymo typically maps and tests in a market, removes the human safety operator, and then opens access to employees, media and invited guests before paid rider availability expands. How quickly that happens can depend on local regulations, including permitting rules for driverless deployment and paid rides.

Waymo’s pace is not limited to Denver, San Diego and Tampa. The Nevada Transportation Authority approved a permit allowing Waymo to operate up to 1,000 autonomous vehicles over the next year in Clark County, and the company is also planning robotaxi service in London and Munich.