Waymo and Zoox Take the Robotaxi Race to More US Cities
Synopsis
The US robotaxi race is shifting into high gear as Waymo launches autonomous rides in Denver, San Diego and Tampa, while Amazon’s Zoox expands testing to Houston and San Diego.
Waymo robotaxi services are set to launch in three new U.S. cities, while Amazon-owned Zoox is entering two additional markets with its autonomous taxis.
Waymo announced the expansion to 14 U.S. cities on September 1, offering $50-off rides in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa. The robotaxi service will roll out gradually to each city, starting with tens of cars.
The recent expansion will take the total number of Waymo’s cars in the U.S. over 4,000, with over 500,000 total trips, paid and unpaid, per week on average, according to the company’s data.
Waymo Adds Three Markets as Zoox Expands Testing
Denver is one of the new robotaxi markets within Waymo’s network, where the company has been testing its driverless cars for around 12 months. With the recent update, the company extends its presence to San Diego and Tampa.
Meanwhile, Waymo prepares to enter the foreign market as it plans to start tests in Munich and launch commercial operations in Germany in late 2027.
As for Zoox, it is set to enter San Diego and Houston, adding to its network of 12 U.S. cities, where it will retrofit cars for mapping and testing purposes before introducing its own robotaxis.
The local expansion comes after the corporate giant launched its first-ever paid rides in Las Vegas in August. Previously, Zoox had been offering its passengers free rides in San Francisco, Austin, and Miami.
Financial Backing and Market Growth
In February, the robotaxi division of Waymo raised $16 billion at a post-money valuation of $126 billion. Alphabet’s revenue from the second quarter of 2026 was $119.8 billion, with its Other Bets segment (which includes Waymo) bringing in $382 million, while the company’s losses totaled $1.8 billion.
Amazon’s net sales grew by 20% year-over-year, with the company’s net income for the second quarter of 2026 amounting to $27.5 billion. Waymo’s financial performance is not disclosed separately, as Zoox’s performance is not reported apart from Amazon’s overall performance.
The robotaxi market’s overall growth outlook is positive, with the market value projected to reach $612.4 million, according to Grand View Research, which forecasts that it will hit $1.19 billion in 2026 and $147.25 billion in 2033. The report highlights North America as a region that generated 90% of the overall market revenue in 2025.
China is also an important market for driverless taxis. According to Baidu, as of May, in the first quarter of 2026, the company’s Apollo Go taxi service was available in 27 markets worldwide and provided 3.2 million completely driverless trips.
Source: Reuters
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
