Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Google's parent company Alphabet, has announced the expansion of its driverless taxi service to Denver and Seattle this week. The company has also secured permits to operate in New York, marking a significant step in its aggressive expansion plans.
Waymo already operates in five US cities — Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco — completing approximately 250,000 paid trips each week. The new launches are part of a strategy to bring self-driving taxis to major cities worldwide.
“We’re entering a new chapter and accelerating our commercial expansion,” the company said in a blog post. Initially, around a dozen vehicles will be deployed in each city for testing, using a mixed fleet of Jaguar I-PACE and Zeekr RT vehicles trained for harsher climates.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston welcomed the move, stating: “Whether they need a ride to work, school, the farmer’s market, or they’re heading out for a night on the town, Waymo is a great way for Denverites to get where they’re going safely. Waymo’s innovative, climate-friendly technology will not only make our streets safer but cleaner.”
However, the expansion has faced resistance. In 2024, Waymo cabs were vandalised during protests in San Francisco. City officials have raised concerns about vehicles obstructing emergency services, and taxi unions argue the technology threatens jobs. Some residents have reported erratic behaviour, with San Francisco resident Rebecca Solnit describing them as “erratic, unpredictable, and unsettling” on X, adding: “I also have yet to see a good answer to why we need them.”
Records from California’s Department of Motor Vehicles show over 70 incidents involving self-driving cars since the start of the year, with Waymo vehicles accounting for roughly half. Despite these challenges, Waymo continues its rollout across the US.
