Waymo Expands U.S. Lead with Miami Robotaxi Launch

• Waymo will initially serve a 60-square-mile area covering Miami's Design District, Wynwood, Brickell, and Coral Gables, with nearly 10,000 residents already signed up
• The company crossed 200,000 weekly paid rides in December and served over 4 million trips in 2025, while reportedly in talks to raise $15 billion in funding
• The Miami launch follows recent safety concerns after Waymo vehicles contributed to gridlock during storms and power outages in San Francisco last month

Summary: Waymo Expands U.S. Lead with Miami Robotaxi Launch

Alphabet's Waymo launched its driverless robotaxi service in Miami on Thursday, marking its sixth U.S. market and first new market of 2025. The service covers a 60-square-mile area including Miami's Design District, Wynwood, Brickell, and Coral Gables neighborhoods, with plans to extend to Miami International Airport without a specified timeline.

Key Figures:

• Nearly 10,000 Miami residents have already signed up for the service
• Waymo crossed 150,000 weekly paid rides in December
• The company is in talks to raise $15 billion in funding
• Service area spans 60 square miles initially

Market Expansion:

Waymo currently operates in six markets: Miami, Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco Bay Area. For 2026, aggressive expansion plans include Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, and Washington. International testing is underway in New York, Tokyo, and London, with the first overseas commercial service planned for this year.

Competition:

Waymo maintains a significant U.S. lead over competitors including Amazon-owned Zoox and Tesla, along with startups like May Mobility and Nuro. The company faces stronger competition from Baidu-owned Apollo Go and WeRide in Asia.

Challenges:

Waymo has faced recent public scrutiny over safety concerns after its vehicles contributed to gridlock during storms and power outages in San Francisco, prompting the company to improve navigation capabilities for adverse weather conditions.

The Miami launch, supported by fleet management partner Moove, could help Waymo lock in rider loyalty as domestic competition lags.