Waymo’s Robotaxi Rides Surge to 450,000 Weekly, Doubling in Six Months
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, has experienced a remarkable surge in its robotaxi operations, now delivering 450,000 rides per week—a near doubling from the 250,000 weekly rides reported just six months prior. This significant growth was unveiled through a leaked investor letter from Tiger Global Management, which highlighted Waymo’s impressive performance alongside other tech leaders like OpenAI and Databricks.
The rapid expansion of Waymo’s services is evident across several major U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area. This aggressive rollout strategy is set to continue, with plans to launch in 12 additional cities by 2026, such as Dallas, Denver, Houston, Nashville, and San Diego.
Waymo’s journey to this milestone has been marked by consistent growth. In August 2024, the company reported 100,000 weekly paid robotaxi rides, a figure that doubled to 200,000 by February 2025. This exponential increase underscores the company’s commitment to scaling its autonomous ride-hailing services.
The company’s expansion isn’t limited to ride numbers alone. In May 2025, Waymo received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to extend its commercial robotaxi service into more areas of Silicon Valley, including parts of Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Sunnyvale. This approval expanded Waymo’s service area to approximately 85 square miles across San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
To support this rapid growth, Waymo has also ramped up its vehicle production. In May 2025, the company announced a multimillion-dollar investment with Magna to build over 2,000 autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles at a new 239,000-square-foot factory in Mesa, Arizona. This facility is strategically located near Waymo’s existing service areas, facilitating efficient deployment of new vehicles.
Despite this impressive growth trajectory, Waymo has faced challenges. In December 2025, the company voluntarily issued a software recall related to how its robotaxis operate around school buses. This proactive measure followed increased scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and criticism from officials in cities like Atlanta and Austin regarding the performance of its autonomous vehicles in school zones.
Looking ahead, Waymo’s ambitious plans include launching a commercial robotaxi service in London by 2026, marking its second international expansion following Tokyo. This move signifies the company’s intent to establish a global presence in the autonomous ride-hailing market.
In summary, Waymo’s rapid growth in robotaxi rides, strategic city expansions, increased vehicle production, and proactive safety measures position the company as a formidable leader in the autonomous vehicle industry. As it continues to scale operations and enter new markets, Waymo is poised to redefine urban mobility on a global scale.
