Waymo begins testing robotaxis in Houston
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You may spot cars like this in a lane near you this week. Photo: Eric Thayer via Getty Images
Waymo — the company behind self-driving robotaxis in cities like Austin and Los Angeles — is getting the lay of the land in Houston starting this week.
Why it matters: Described as a "road trip," Waymo's visit marks its introduction to the Bayou City, signaling another possible rollout of autonomous vehicles for locals.
How it works: For now, trained specialists will manually drive around 10 Waymo vehicles to help the company gather data on Houston streets.
The intrigue: Although testing is underway, Waymo spokesperson Sandy Karp tells Axios the company has "no plans to share about launching a service in Houston at this time."
What they're saying: "Like other visitors to Space City, we can't wait to take in the sights, immerse ourselves in Houston's distinct driving culture, and meet with locals," Karp said in a statement.
Zoom out: Waymo began test runs in other cities this year, including Dallas, San Diego, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Nashville and Boston.
- Along with Houston, San Antonio and Orlando are the latest cities where Waymo recently began testing.
Reality check: Several Austin residents have filed complaints against Waymo, citing safety concerns and a "near-miss" since the company began testing there in March 2024.
Flashback: That story similarly played out in Houston when GM's now-shuttered Cruise robotaxi experiment proved problematic.
- Driverless Cruise cars were involved in at least three collisions and caused a momentary traffic jam in Montrose during the company's brief run in Houston.
Between the lines: Karp says Waymo is committed to working with communities and public officials in the cities it enters, but Mayor John Whitmire's office says they didn't get a heads-up from the company about their plans.
- "City departments and emergency responders have been briefed on protocols for interacting with autonomous vehicles," Whitmire spokesperson Mary Benton tells Axios. "The mayor will continue to monitor the situation."
📬 Tell us: Are you excited, curious or skeptical about sharing Houston roads with autonomous vehicles?
- Email [email protected] and let us know.