Waymo’s Coast-to-Coast Expansion Accelerates
Waymo continues its aggressive expansion in 2026, adding four new cities to its robotaxi service network. The company announced it will soon begin fully autonomous operations in San Diego (West Coast), Tampa (East Coast), Denver (Mile High City), and Las Vegas (Sin City). This marks a significant milestone as Waymo now operates across more than 10 cities where users can hail a self-driving vehicle via the app 24/7.
Initial Rollout to Employees First
Waymo stated: “Waymo will soon begin driving fully autonomously, without a human specialist behind the wheel, in our four latest cities. While these rider-only operations will initially be for employees, we expect to welcome the public soon.” The company encourages residents in these cities to download the app and receive notifications when service becomes available.
New Vehicle Platform: Hyundai IONIQ 5
Waymo is also integrating its 6th-generation Waymo Driver into the Hyundai IONIQ 5 electric vehicle. The company confirmed: “We’re also beginning to drive our newest vehicle—the Hyundai IONIQ 5—autonomously with a specialist present. This phase allows us to validate our technology for fully autonomous operations.” The IONIQ 5 joins the Zeekr/Ojai vehicles in Waymo’s fleet.
Proven Safety Record
The author highlights Waymo’s superb safety record compared to human drivers in the same locations and times, reinforcing confidence in the autonomous technology.
Broader Context and Future Plans
The article notes that a Waymo vehicle was spotted in Tampa two months ago, confirming early testing. Waymo’s expansion in 2026 is its biggest yet, with the goal of providing accessible robotaxi service across major U.S. metropolitan areas.