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Waymo is phasing out safety drivers in Miami as part of its push toward full autonomy ahead of a 2026 commercial launch. The company plans to offer fully autonomous rides to employees in Miami and expand to Dallas, Houston, and other cities. Waymo recently achieved milestones like highway rides in major U.S. cities and has partnerships with companies like Uber. Competitors like Zoox and Tesla are also testing robotaxi services, though Waymo remains confident in its expansion strategy. The company faces regulatory scrutiny after a safety incident in Atlanta involving its autonomous vehicles.
Key facts
- Waymo is removing safety drivers from its Miami robotaxi fleet ahead of a 2026 commercial launch.
- The company plans to roll out fully autonomous rides to employees in Miami and expand to Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Orlando, and other cities by 2026.
- Waymo has already achieved milestones like offering paid highway rides in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, with corporate travel partnerships in Atlanta and Austin.
- Competitors such as Zoox and Tesla are also testing autonomous ride services, though Waymo claims to have developed a comprehensive operational playbook.
- Regulators are investigating Waymo after an incident where its vehicle in Atlanta drove around a stopped school bus, raising safety concerns.
