Image: Waymo
Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, has officially announced plans to launch its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Dallas, Texas, in 2026.
The company shared the news in a press release on Tuesday, highlighting Dallas’ vibrant downtown, growing metro area, and strong demand for convenient, tech-forward transportation solutions as ideal factors for its expansion.
Waymo will deploy its driverless fleet throughout the city via the Waymo app, offering 24/7 autonomous transportation for residents and visitors alike. Riders will be able to use the service for everything from attending Dallas Mavericks games to exploring the city’s booming culinary and arts scenes. The initiative also aligns with Dallas’ Vision Zero goals to reduce road traffic fatalities, with Waymo citing its track record of improving safety in cities where it already operates.
“We look forward to bringing our fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the people of Dallas next year,” said Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana. “Working together with our fleet partner Avis, Waymo will offer more riders a stress-free way to get around.”
This launch will be powered by a new multi-year partnership with Avis Budget Group, which will manage Waymo’s Dallas fleet with end-to-end vehicle readiness, maintenance, infrastructure, and depot operations. According to Waymo, this collaboration will help scale its robotaxi operations even faster across North America.
“Our partnership with Waymo marks a pivotal milestone in our evolution, from a rental car company to a leading provider of fleet management, infrastructure and operations to the broader mobility ecosystem,” said Avis Budget Group CEO Brian Choi. “Together, we’re committed to making scaled autonomous mobility a reality for the people of Dallas, with plans to expand to additional cities in the near future.”
Dallas will join a growing list of cities where Waymo operates or plans to expand, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami, and Washington D.C. The company also announced earlier this summer that it would return to New York City — albeit with human drivers behind the wheel initially.
“We are excited that fully autonomous ride-hailing services are scheduled to begin in Dallas next year,” said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. Waymo currently completes more than 250,000 paid rides and millions of miles of autonomous driving each week across five major U.S. cities.
