Waymo’s expansion of its commercial robotaxi service appears extensive, encompassing a broad range of locations and a significant number of passengers. In almost every aspect, it is, except when you notice the majority of robotaxis are appearing in specific locations. Over the last two years, there has been a substantial commercial launch, indicating the financial support of a company like Waymo, which was created by Google and is controlled by Alphabet. By September 2024, Waymo’s operations were limited to only three cities: Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Today, it provides robotaxi service in 15 American cities, with the majority of the commercial introductions happening within the last year. Ridership has increased dramatically, as Waymo currently averages 500,53 paid robotaxi trips per week. However, examining the company’s fleet reveals that they are focusing their efforts on only two states. Approximately 80% of Waymo’s approximately 4,000 robotaxis are situated in California and Texas, with Texas currently experiencing significant growth: Waymo’s fleet there has increased by almost half in the last three weeks, thanks to a newly constructed Chinese minivan that the company believes will aid in its expansion, despite tariffs causing its expenses to rise. The remaining 800 or so vehicles are dispersed across various cities in other states, such as Arizona and Florida, which is another rapidly expanding area. The majority are recognizable white Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs, however, an increasing amount are the newly introduced minivans, which are a modified version of the Zeekr RT, rebranded by Waymo as “Ojai.” It’s not surprising that Waymo is concentrating on California.
