Today, we continue our accelerated growth and welcome the first public riders into our fully autonomous ride-hailing service in four new cities: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando. In addition to marking the first time we\u2019ve opened to the public in multiple cities simultaneously, this brings our total commercial metro areas to 10, and deepens our commitment in the states of Texas and Florida.<\/p>\n
Select riders from the tens of thousands in these cities who have downloaded the Waymo app will receive an invitation to take their first local rides today. We will be inviting new riders on a rolling basis to ensure a seamless experience across our initial service areas, as we meaningfully scale our operations ahead of opening our service to everyone later this year.<\/p>\n
Waymo is the only company successfully operating a commercial fully autonomous ride-hailing service at scale in multiple complex urban environments, and we\u2019re ramping up with these new expansions. We\u2019ll continue to follow our market entry playbook, always leading with safety, and continue to engage the community to earn trust and generate excitement to ride.<\/p>\n
\u201cWaymo is serving more riders than ever, as we are on track to serve over one million rides per week by the end of this year,\u201d said Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo. \u201cDallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando are critical to our plans, as we lay groundwork for service in 20+ cities. Each community has its own unique charm and transportation needs, and we\u2019re eager to provide a safe, reliable, and magical way for locals and visitors to travel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our generalizable technology handles each city\u2019s unique environment, from the bright midday sun to sudden downpours to freezing temperatures. New riders will use our reliable service to travel to their city\u2019s popular destinations, like a night out in Dallas\u2019s Bishop Arts District, seeing a show at Houston\u2019s Toyota Center, catching a San Antonio Spurs game, or experiencing one of Orlando\u2019s latest attractions.<\/p>\n
City and community leaders have welcomed Waymo\u2019s fully autonomous service in their communities:<\/p>\n
\u201cDallas is excited for Waymo to launch operations in our city, providing Dallas residents and visitors with new, innovative transportation options,\u201d said Eric L. Johnson, Dallas Mayor. \u201cThe availability of Waymo\u2019s fully autonomous ride service further cements Dallas\u2019s reputation as one of America\u2019s most innovative and dynamic cities. Together, we are putting public safety first while building a more connected city.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been working with Waymo for several months to make today\u2019s announcement possible,\u201d said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. \u201cThe launch of their commercial service in Orlando is another example of our city\u2019s forward thinking and commitment to innovation. Starting today, our residents will have another option to safely move about the area, and our visitors will be welcomed with the world class mobility they deserve. Welcome to Orlando, Waymo!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a big fan of Waymo and have ridden in them many times on the West Coast\u2014it is a fun and futuristic experience,\u201d said Houston City Council Member Sallie Alcorn. \u201cI’m thrilled that we are now launching limited access public rides here in Houston. It will give both Houstonians and visitors another safe, high-tech way to get around during exciting upcoming events like the World Baseball Classic and the World Cup.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Greater San Antonio Chamber is proud to celebrate Waymo\u2019s expansion to limited public rides here in San Antonio,\u201d Katie Ferrier, SVP Public Policy & Economic Development, The Greater San Antonio Chamber. \u201cThis milestone reflects months of thoughtful planning and a shared commitment to innovation. Waymo\u2019s investment here signals confidence in San Antonio\u2019s workforce, infrastructure, and forward-thinking business climate.\u201d<\/p>\n