Waymo Set to Launch Robotaxi Service in Washington, D.C., by 2026

Waymo announced on Tuesday that it plans to introduce its autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, in Washington, D.C., by 2026.

Before the service can go fully operational, the company must navigate regulatory challenges in the capital, where current autonomous vehicle laws still require a human driver behind the wheel.

This move is part of Waymo’s aggressive expansion strategy to secure its lead in the robotaxi market against competitors like Amazon’s Zoox and Tesla. Elon Musk has claimed Tesla will launch a robotaxi service in Austin this summer, followed by an expansion into California later this year.

Waymo already operates commercial robotaxi services in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area, with a recent launch in Austin in collaboration with Uber. The company is also preparing to roll out autonomous ride-hailing in Atlanta through Uber this year and has already started transporting employees in self-driving vehicles. In addition to Washington, D.C., Waymo has plans to expand to Miami in 2026.

To further bolster its presence, Waymo will begin mapping 10 new cities in 2024, including Las Vegas, San Diego, and, most recently, Nashville.

The Washington, D.C., expansion follows a recent test program where Waymo deployed a small fleet of its Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis in the city. These vehicles have been operating manually and undergoing autonomous testing with a safety driver on board.

Since Waymo’s long-term vision revolves around fully driverless operations, the company plans to collaborate with policymakers to update regulations, allowing autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads without human oversight.