Waymo Plans Driverless Taxis Launch in Detroit, San Diego, Las Vegas 2026

Waymo announced it will bring its fully autonomous ride-hail service to Detroit — its first Midwest market — and is also rolling out service in San Diego and Las Vegas with launches expected in 2026. The company has begun mapping and testing Detroit streets with safety drivers aboard and says it has trained its sixth‑generation driver in winter conditions, including testing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Waymo plans to start with a small supervised fleet that it intends to scale to hundreds of vehicles after completing validations and obtaining necessary permits in Nevada and Michigan. The Google-born company already operates in several U.S. cities, says it has provided millions of autonomous rides, promotes safety, accessibility for riders with disabilities and an all-electric fleet with climate benefits, but public reaction and competition from rivals like Tesla are mixed. Waymo also plans to launch robotaxi service in London next year, which would be its first European city deployment.