Waymo launches robotaxi service in Miami, extending U.S. lead
A Waymo vehicle leaves a charging point on January 15, 2026 in Austin, Texas.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
AlphabetWaymo said Thursday that its robotaxi service is now available to paying passengers in Miami, kicking off market expansion in 2026.
Miami is the sixth market where Waymo offers its driverless ride-hailing service, expanding its lead. Tesla’s And AmazonIt belongs to Zoox. Waymo’s planned expansions in 2026 could stabilize driver demand and loyalty in the U.S. as competition in the U.S. lags
Waymo will initially offer its services in a 60-square-mile area that includes Miami’s Design District, Wynwood, Brickell and Coral Gables neighborhoods. Google’s sister company said.
The company began testing its vehicles in the Florida city in early 2025. Waymo said it plans to expand its service to Miami International Airport in the near future, but did not give a specific timeline.
The company said “approximately 10,000 residents” of Miami have already signed up to try the robotaxi service, and Waymo will “invite new drivers on an ongoing basis.” Passengers can hail a Waymo robotaxi in Miami using the company’s app.
Waymo is partnering with mobility company Moove for fleet management services, including vehicle charging, cleaning and repair.
The Miami launch comes after Waymo faced public concerns about the safety and driving behavior of its vehicles.
Waymo’s vehicles caused traffic gridlock during storms and widespread power outages in San Francisco last month. Waymo later said in a statement that the company was improving its systems to better navigate such conditions and weather.
The company ended 2025 with robotaxi service available in five major U.S. markets, including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix and the San Francisco Bay Area.
For 2026, Waymo said it plans to expand into more U.S. markets, including Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, Washington and Nashville, Tenn. The company is also testing in New York, Tokyo and London and said it will launch its first overseas commercial service this year.
In December, Waymo passed 450,000 weekly paid rides, and the company announced that the service is available 14 million The company is in talks to raise $15 billion in funding, CNBC reported last month.
The Alphabet company faces its toughest competition in Asia from Baidu’s Apollo Go and WeRide, but Amazon’s Zoox and Elon Musk Tesla’sIt aims to compete with Waymo in North America, along with startups such as May Mobility and Nuro.
— CNBC’s Jennifer Elias contributed to this report.
WRISTWATCH: 2025: The year robotaxi becomes widespread, led by Waymo
