Waymo to Launch Fully Autonomous Ride-Hailing in Washington, D.C. by 2026

The company is working with local policymakers to address regulatory hurdles while expanding its robotaxi services to new cities.

Waymo announced plans to introduce its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Washington, D.C., in 2026, pending regulatory changes to allow operations without safety drivers.
The company has been testing vehicles with safety drivers in the city since January 2025 and will expand its test fleet in the coming weeks.
Waymo currently offers robotaxi services in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin, providing over 200,000 paid rides weekly and completing 4 million rides in 2024.
Washington, D.C., will be the first snowy city in Waymo's service area, though operations will temporarily pause during snow or icy conditions until winter capabilities are added.
The expansion positions Waymo to influence federal policymakers on autonomous vehicle regulation as competition with Tesla and Amazon's Zoox intensifies.