Waymo Expands Manual Driving Operations to Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving arm, announced Thursday its plans to initiate manual test drives in Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans, signaling a strategic expansion initiative. This move precedes the potential launch of its driverless robotaxi service in these cities as early as next year.

The company will deploy vehicles equipped with human drivers in the aforementioned metropolitan areas to gather crucial data and refine its autonomous driving system. This cautious approach underlines Waymo’s commitment to safety and operational readiness before deploying fully driverless vehicles. The data acquired during these initial phases will inform the precise calibration of Waymo’s technology to meet the specific nuances of each city’s driving conditions.

If Waymo proceeds with its service launch in these markets by 2026, its operational footprint will extend to a total of 15 cities. This ambitious expansion strategy highlights Waymo’s increasing confidence in its technology and its bullish outlook on the future of autonomous transportation. Analysts note that successful execution of this expansion is crucial for establishing Waymo as a dominant player in the rapidly evolving robotaxi market.

Earlier this week, Waymo disclosed imminent plans to commence driverless operations in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Miami, and Orlando. Public service is slated to begin in these Texas and Florida markets in 2026. Additionally, Waymo has previously announced its intention to broaden its reach to Detroit, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, San Diego, Washington, D.C., and London.

A Waymo representative emphasized that the company will assess and validate its technology’s performance in Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans before definitively committing to a 2026 launch timeline. This cautious approach contrasts with the more certain timelines outlined for other expansion markets, reflecting a data-driven decision-making process.

“2026 is very much on the table, but we’ll be led by our safety framework,” stated Waymo spokesperson Ethan Teicher. This reinforces Waymo’s unwavering prioritization of safety as it scales its operations.

Waymo currently operates its robotaxi service in Austin, the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, providing over 250,000 weekly paid trips. Since its inception in 2020, the company has facilitated over 10 million paid rides, demonstrating substantial user adoption and validating the commercial viability of robotaxi services.

Last week, Waymo integrated freeway routes into its service offerings within the San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles areas. The company plans to incrementally expand freeway capabilities to additional riders and geographic locations.

The incorporation of freeway driving capabilities signifies a pivotal achievement for Waymo and the broader robotaxi industry, given the complexities associated with operating at highway speeds. In the upcoming year, Waymo will aim to reach another considerable milestone: operating in areas notorious for severe winter weather.

The addition of Minneapolis, alongside Denver and Detroit, signifies Waymo’s conviction that its vehicles are approaching readiness to operate in regions prone to snow and freezing temperatures. This is a major technical hurdle for self-driving systems, requiring advanced sensor fusion and sophisticated algorithms to reliably navigate challenging conditions.

“We currently operate at freezing temperatures, including with frost and hail, and we’re validating our system to navigate harsher weather conditions,” Teicher explained. “We’ll have small fleets to start that we expand over time.” This phased deployment strategy allows Waymo to carefully monitor performance and address any unforeseen challenges in real-world conditions.

The increasing competition in the autonomous vehicle space also warrants attention. Zoox, backed by Amazon, has recently initiated a limited, free robotaxi service for select users in San Francisco. San Francisco represents Zoox’s second operational market, following its launch in Las Vegas in September. Zoox intends to eliminate its San Francisco waitlist entirely by 2026, intensifying the competitive landscape. The rivalry between Waymo and Zoox, along with other players in the sector, is expected to fuel innovation and accelerate the development of autonomous vehicle technology.