Waymo opens up robotaxi service in Dallas to everyone
Quick Answer
Waymo has eliminated the waitlist for its robotaxi service in Dallas, allowing all residents and visitors to access the service via its app.
Quick Take
Although riders cannot yet hail rides to Dallas Love Field Airport, the company plans to expand service there soon, following previous testing challenges due to severe weather.
Key Points
- Waymo's robotaxi service in Dallas is now open to all users without a waitlist.
- The service has been available since February, with 150,000 riders using the app.
- Rides to Dallas Love Field Airport are currently unavailable but expected soon.
- Waymo paused operations in several cities earlier due to severe weather conditions.
- Users can check service status in real-time via the Waymo app.
DeepSignal Analysis
What happened
Waymo has removed the waitlist for its robotaxi service in Dallas, making it accessible to all residents and visitors. Although riders cannot currently hail rides to Dallas Love Field Airport, the company is testing its vehicles there and plans to expand service soon. Waymo has been operating in Dallas since last year and had previously paused service due to challenges with severe weather.
Key evidence
- Waymo has opened its robotaxi service in Dallas to all users, allowing immediate access via its app, following a period of limited access through a waitlist.
- The company has been testing its self-driving technology in Dallas since last year and initially announced plans to launch the service in 2026, partnering with Avis Budget Group for fleet management.
- In May, Waymo paused its service in Dallas and other cities due to issues with its robotaxis navigating heavy rain and flooding, but has since resumed operations.
Why it matters
The removal of the waitlist signifies Waymo's commitment to scaling its robotaxi service in urban areas, which could influence the adoption of autonomous vehicles in other markets. The ongoing testing at Dallas Love Field Airport indicates a strategic approach to expand service in high-demand locations. However, the company's previous service interruptions due to weather highlight the challenges faced by autonomous vehicle technology in real-world conditions.
📖 Reader Mode
~2 min readAutonomous car maker Waymo has dropped the waitlist for its robotaxi service in Dallas, opening it up to all residents and visitors. This is the latest step in the Alphabet-owned company’s bid to scale its self-driving technology across Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Waymo said Tuesday that anyone can now download the app and immediately hail one of its robotaxis in Dallas.
For now, riders won’t be able to hail a ride to Dallas Love Field Airport. The company said it continues to test its self-driving vehicles at the airport and expects to serve riders there “soon.”
The company has had a presence in Dallas since last year, when it began testing its technology on public streets and announced plans to launch the service there in 2026. At the time, the company said it would partner with Avis Budget Group to manage its fleet of all-electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. Avis handles general depot operations, including charging and maintaining the vehicles.
Waymo opened the service to the public in February, but initially limited access through a waitlist. Waymo said about 150,000 riders used the Waymo app during this period. Waymo no longer has the waitlist, following a robotaxi playbook that it has used in every other market, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The company’s entry into Dallas had some early hiccups. In May, Waymo paused its service in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as Atlanta, due to problems with how its robotaxis handled heavy rain and flooded roads.
While robotaxi services have resumed in these cities, Waymo said it may adjust or temporarily pause operations based on severe weather, flood warnings, and real-time conditions in the future. A Waymo spokesperson said riders can check the status of its service via the Waymo app.
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Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade. She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, “The Autonocast.” She previously wrote for Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review and CBS Interactive.
You can contact or verify outreach from Kirsten by emailing kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at kkorosec.07 on Signal.
— Originally published at techcrunch.com
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