Technology and Science · 01 September, 2026 · 2 min read
Waymo Launches Paid Driverless Robotaxi Rides In Denver, San Diego, And Tampa
Waymo begins paid driverless robotaxi service in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa. Expansion brings Waymo commercial robotaxi service to 14 U.S. cities.
Waymo and Tesla are framed as either direct competitors or not.
11 of 12 outlets skipped it: waymo claims 94% fewer serious-injury crashes vs human drivers.
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Same story, two versions
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Gadget Review
“The race between Waymo and Tesla isn’t really about who has more vehicles authorized on paper.”Read the original ↗
Electrek
“Tampa is now a market where Waymo and Tesla are both running paid, “driverless” ride services at the same time.”Read the original ↗
Gadget Review and Electrek frame Waymo-Tesla rivalry differently; both cover the same launch.
Waymo goes public
Waymo launched paid, fully driverless robotaxi service in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa on September 1, 2026, bringing its U.S. footprint to 14 cities and its fleet to somewhere between 3,500 and 4,000 vehicles.
“On September 1, 2026, Waymo launched paid, fully driverless service in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa”
In Denver and San Diego, riders can book only the new Ojai minivan, while Tampa gets a mix of Ojai and the older Jaguar I-Pace, with the expansion adding roughly 150 square miles of new coverage in a single day.
Waymo said tens of thousands of people in each city have signed up, and it will gradually open access to them before everyone else.
The company also said it is now offering robotaxi rides to the public in three more cities, and that it will start with dozens of robotaxis before growing to "hundreds over time."
Ojai strategy and rivals
Waymo’s rollout centers on the Zeekr-built Ojai, described as Waymo’s bet on cheaper rides and as the vehicle that runs its sixth-generation Driver hardware and software stack.
Waymo head of design Ryan Powell told CNBC that the vehicle is “cheaper to manufacture” and that Waymo aims to have thousands on the road before January, while the Gadget Review described the Ojai as designed for high utilization, easier maintenance, and lower per-mile cost.G
The expansion also arrives as Tesla pushes its own robotaxi plans, with Nevada’s Transportation Authority approving fleet caps for Clark County and Tesla promoting its upcoming Cybercab as its answer to Waymo’s Ojai.
CNBC reported that Zoox said it plans to test its toaster-shaped vehicles in Houston and San Diego with human drivers on board, while Waymo said it will have dozens of robotaxis in each of the three new U.S. cities and plans to reach "hundreds over time."
Scale, targets, and stakes
Waymo said it is already providing more than 500,000 rides a week and is targeting one million weekly trips by the end of 2026, while also claiming its Waymo Driver is involved in 94% fewer serious injury or worse crashes compared with human drivers over the same period.
““From coast to coast, we’re focused on making everyday transportation safer, easier, and more accessible,””
The company framed the public launch as a safety and accessibility push, with Chief Marketing Officer Suzanne Philion stating, “From coast to coast, we’re focused on making everyday transportation safer, easier, and more accessible,” as it begins welcoming first public riders in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa.
CNBC reported that Goldman Sachs Research forecasts the U.S. robotaxi market will reach $19 billion in 2030, up from about $3 billion next year, before jumping to $48 billion in 2035.
At the same time, CNBC noted criticism from labor leaders and vehicle safety advocates, including worries that autonomous vehicles will eliminate jobs in transportation and calls for companies to disclose and standardize their mileage and crash data.