Waymo, a leader in self-driving car technology, is expanding its reach beyond the United States as it steps up efforts to bring autonomous vehicles to more cities worldwide. After years of steady growth in the U.S., Waymo is now teaming up with ride-hailing services and fleet operators to speed up its rollout, even as Tesla launches its own robotaxi service domestically.
This year, Waymo began collecting data and running vehicle tests in Tokyo, Japan. These tests involve human drivers and are done in partnership with Nihon Kotsu, a local taxi company, and Go, a popular taxi-hailing app. Meanwhile, in London, Waymo is preparing to launch its services and has joined forces with Moove, a vehicle financing company, to handle fleet operations and infrastructure. Safety drivers will start testing Waymo’s cars on the streets of London soon, with plans to switch to fully autonomous vehicles in 2025.
Within the U.S., Waymo is already busy. Its fleet of about 1,500 vehicles serves over 250,000 paid trips weekly in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Austin. Following a partnership with Moove in Phoenix to manage operations and charging facilities, Waymo is set to bring the same setup to Miami next year.
Uber is also part of this evolving landscape. In Atlanta and Austin, Uber users can hail Waymo vehicles through the app. Looking ahead, Uber announced plans to offer fully driverless rides in the UK starting in spring 2026, working with AI startup Wayve.
While Waymo expands, the broader self-driving car industry faces hurdles, especially in the U.S. Companies like General Motors’ Cruise have hit roadblocks due to crashes, vehicle recalls, and investigations. Yet, Waymo’s steady pace and international partnerships suggest it’s ready to keep moving forward in this competitive field.