Waymo opens limited-access driverless robotaxi rides in San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and Orlando: key details

Service begins by invitation through the Waymo app

Waymo has started offering limited-access public rides in a fully driverless robotaxi service in four new cities: San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and Orlando. The rollout is being conducted by invitation for select riders who have downloaded the Waymo app, with additional riders to be added on a rolling basis. The company has said it intends to open the service more broadly later in 2026.

San Antonio’s initial operating footprint and what is not included

In San Antonio, the initial service area spans about 60 square miles and includes downtown and the Arena District. The initial footprint does not include San Antonio International Airport, where operations were described as remaining in a testing phase at launch. The company has also indicated it expects to scale its local fleet over time.

Vehicles, sensors and how rides are delivered

The service uses electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles configured for autonomous driving. The vehicles are equipped with a sensor suite that includes lidar, radar and multiple cameras, paired with software designed to handle complex urban driving tasks such as turns, merges, cyclist interactions and pedestrian crossings. Waymo operates the ride-hailing experience primarily through its own app in these new markets.

Pricing and rider experience

At launch, ride pricing in the new cities has been described as generally comparable to other ride-hailing and taxi options. The service operates without a human driver in the vehicle during passenger trips, a defining distinction from driver-assisted autonomous testing programs and advanced driver-assistance systems offered in consumer vehicles.

Safety claims and recent scrutiny

Waymo has cited large-scale operational history as part of its safety case, including more than 200 million miles of fully autonomous driving and performance analyses comparing its system to human driving outcomes. At the same time, the company has faced federal attention tied to reported incidents in other markets, including issues involving roadway controls and a minor collision in California.

How the expansion fits into Waymo’s national strategy

The four-city launch expands Waymo’s commercial footprint to 10 U.S. metro areas, adding to existing operations that include Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as newer markets such as Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta and Austin. Waymo has also signaled ambitions to grow to additional U.S. cities beyond this expansion as it increases vehicle deployments and rider access over time.

• New limited-access markets: San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Orlando
• Initial access: invitation-based via the Waymo app
• San Antonio launch area: about 60 square miles, including downtown and the Arena District
• Airport access: not included at launch; testing phase noted

Waymo’s rollout model in the new cities relies on a staged expansion: start with a constrained geography and user group, then broaden availability as fleet size and operational confidence increase.