Waymo has announced plans to launch a robotaxi service next year in Dallas, marking the latest expansion of its commercial operations. The Alphabet-owned company already operates in Los Angeles and San Francisco and is now partnering with Avis Budget Group to manage its fleet of all-electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. Avis will oversee depot operations, including charging and maintenance, while users can hail rides through the Waymo app.
This partnership is the first of its kind for Waymo with a rental car company, and it is expected to extend to other cities in the future. Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli emphasized that Avis will help the company scale its technology more efficiently and cost-effectively in new markets. The collaboration aims to expand to additional cities over time.
The Dallas launch follows earlier groundwork by Waymo, including mapping and initial testing with human safety operators. As with previous city rollouts, the company will progress to fully autonomous testing once its technology is further validated on Dallas roads. Bonelli did not disclose exact launch dates or the initial fleet size but confirmed plans to scale to hundreds of vehicles in partnership with Avis.
Avis Budget Group CEO Brian Choi called the partnership a pivotal milestone in the company’s evolution from a rental car provider to a leader in fleet management and mobility infrastructure.
Waymo currently operates commercially in five cities: Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area, including Silicon Valley. The company also plans to launch robotaxi services in Washington, D.C., and Miami in the near future.