Waymo Opens Robotaxi Service Across Three US Cities

The Alphabet subsidiary removes sign-up waitlists in Texas, California, and Florida while adding direct airport trips in San Antonio.

Waymo opened its commercial robotaxi service to the general public in San Antonio, San Diego, and Tampa on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The Alphabet subsidiary announced the move on its official blog and corporate X account. Residents and visitors in all three metropolitan regions can now download the app and hail a driverless ride immediately, without invitation codes or waiting queues.

Rapid Waymo robotaxi service expansion without waitlists

The rollout moved much faster than earlier market launches. In pioneer cities like Phoenix and San Francisco, moving from guarded pilot programs to open public availability took years of technical trials and regulatory hearings. This time, Waymo opened waitlists in San Diego and Tampa on September 1. Just six weeks later, all onboarding barriers disappeared.

Waymo reported that hundreds of thousands of riders used the vehicles across the three cities during preliminary testing throughout 2026. The company has not submitted those ride totals to any independent third-party audit, leaving the figures strictly as self-reported metrics.

Direct integration at San Antonio Airport

In San Antonio, the commercial debut arrived with direct access to San Antonio International Airport (SAT). Autonomous cars pick up and drop off riders at the passenger terminals, linking airport gates to central business districts and high-traffic commercial corridors across town.

City aviation officials backed the integration directly. Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports for the City of San Antonio Aviation Department, stated that driverless access at terminal curbs gives travelers practical connections between flights and city destinations.

Local partnerships for urban accessibility

Waymo also anchored its city launches through partnerships with local community groups focused on transit equity and accessibility.

In California, Bob Kelly, chief executive of the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, noted that autonomous transport gives older adults a reliable way to maintain daily independence without driving. In Florida, Scott Young, board chair of the Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision, pointed out that driverless rides help fill persistent gaps in traditional public transit for visually impaired individuals.

What Waymo has not disclosed

Despite the unrestricted public launch, Waymo withheld several key operational details. The company did not share how many vehicles are currently operating in each city. It also declined to release exact geographic perimeter maps for active coverage zones in San Antonio and San Diego.

Denver also remains in limbo. The Colorado capital began waitlist testing alongside San Diego and Tampa on September 1. Waymo did not lift sign-up limits in Denver this week, and the company has not set a target date for full public access there.