Waymo has announced the expansion of its fully autonomous robotaxi service to ten new cities across the United States, following a safety record that now shows fewer accidents per mile than human drivers in its existing markets.

The Expansion Cities

The new markets include Chicago, Miami, Denver, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Portland. Waymo expects to have operational fleets in all ten cities by the end of 2026.

Safety Data

Waymo’s latest safety report shows that its vehicles are involved in 73% fewer injury-causing crashes per million miles than the average human driver. The data covers over 50 million fully autonomous miles across its existing San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix markets.

The Business Model

Waymo is pursuing a dual strategy: operating its own robotaxi fleet while also licensing its Driver technology to automotive partners. Hyundai and Stellantis have both signed licensing agreements, with vehicles expected to enter production in 2027.

Regulatory Landscape

The expansion comes as federal regulators finalize a national framework for autonomous vehicle deployment, which is expected to replace the current patchwork of state-by-state regulations.