Waymo and Zoox Expand Robotaxi Services Across U.S. Cities

Waymo and Zoox are accelerating U.S. robotaxi expansions amid a forecasted $19 billion market by 2030.

Alphabet’s Waymo and Amazon-backed Zoox are intensifying competition in autonomous ride-hailing by extending their services into new cities. This structural expansion signals growing confidence in driverless technology’s market potential and the race to capture urban mobility.

Waymo launched paid driverless rides in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa as of September 1, 2026, operating over 4,000 vehicles across 14 U.S. cities and providing more than 500,000 rides weekly. The company plans to deploy dozens of robotaxis initially in each new city, aiming for “hundreds over time,” with riders hailing trips through the Waymo app. Zoox is set to begin supervised testing in Houston and San Diego this month, supplementing its paid service in Las Vegas and free service in San Francisco. Tesla is preparing to disclose details of its own driverless Cybercab and Robotaxi service at an event this Thursday. Goldman Sachs Research projects the U.S. robotaxi market to grow from about $3 billion next year to $19 billion in 2030 and $48 billion by 2035.

Zoox’s upcoming tests and Tesla’s announcement will likely shape competitive dynamics in the months ahead.

While Montana is not currently on these companies’ rollout maps, its expansive geography and dispersed population might slow adoption of robotaxis compared to denser urban centers. However, Montana businesses and communities could benefit if autonomous fleets eventually address regional mobility challenges, particularly in areas where traditional ride-hailing is scarce or costly.

Waymo and Zoox expand into more U.S. markets as robotaxi race heats up
By Lora Kolodny, CNBC