Waymo and Zoox expand into more U.S. markets as robotaxi race heats up

CNBC • September 1, 2026 • business

Key Points:

Alphabet's Waymo is expanding its driverless robotaxi service to San Diego, Tampa, and Denver, marking its first commercial operations in Colorado with plans to increase its fleet to hundreds of vehicles in these cities.
Amazon's Zoox plans to test its autonomous vehicles with human drivers in Houston and San Diego, aiming to operate in 12 U.S. markets, though its paid ride-hailing service currently only runs in Las Vegas.
Waymo operates over 4,000 vehicles across 14 U.S. cities, providing more than 500,000 robotaxi rides weekly, and aims to surpass 1 million rides by the end of 2026, including partnerships with Uber in some markets.
The U.S. robotaxi market is projected to grow significantly, with estimates rising from $3 billion next year to $19 billion in 2030 and $48 billion by 2035, reflecting increasing industry momentum.
Despite growth, autonomous vehicle services face criticism over potential job losses in transportation and safety concerns, including operational challenges during adverse weather, blackouts, and complex traffic conditions.

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