Waymo's driverless cars to hit Dallas roads soon
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Waymo fleet is getting ready for Dallas. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Waymo will go driverless on Dallas streets in the coming weeks, the company announced Tuesday.
Why it matters: This is the final step before the self-driving taxi company expands driverless operations in Dallas and other U.S. cities next year.
The latest: Waymo's growing roster of cities will soon include Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Miami and Orlando.
- Initially, only Waymo employees will be taking rides in the driverless cars around downtown and near Dallas Love Field.
Catch up quick: Dallas residents have likely already seen the white cars with cameras on their roofs tooling around the city for several months.
- Waymo employees have driven the cars to allow the technology to map the roads and learn local driving behavior.
State of drive: Waymo isn't the first robotaxi company to set its sights on Dallas. Cruise operated a trial run in the city last year before GM shuttered the program.
What they're saying: "Together, Dallas and Waymo will prioritize safety, while providing new and innovative transportation choices for our community," city manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said in a statement.
Zoom out: Waymo's driverless cars began taking Austin passengers for a spin via Uber in March, and there are now more than 100 Waymo cars operating in the city, per the company.
- An Axios examination of federal data last month shows that Waymo autonomous vehicles were involved in at least 16 collisions in Austin between June 16 and Sept. 15 — though the records don't indicate who was at fault in the incidents.
The other side: The company says its autonomous cars are involved in crashes that cause serious injury or worse 11 times less often than human-driven cars.
What's next: Waymo officials say the company will start offering driverless rides in Dallas via its app in early 2026.
- Interested riders can sign up for updates on Waymo's website.