Waymo’s robotaxi service in Miami has gone public, inviting about 10,000 residents on its waitlist to hail rides within a 60-square-mile area that includes Design District, Wynwood, Brickell, Coral Gables, and surrounding neighborhoods.

The Miami launch follows Waymo’s 2025 shutdown of five U.S. markets and its plans to expand in 2026 to multiple new cities in the U.S., while testing in New York, Tokyo, and London and pursuing overseas commercial service.

Future expansion includes extending service to Miami International Airport, with timing to be announced as coming soon.

Waymo emphasizes safety and reliability, highlighting the use of AI, lidar, and radar, while acknowledging past incidents such as stalls and erratic driving in certain traffic conditions.

Tesla remains a key competitor, offering Robotaxi services only in Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area with a human safety monitor in the driver’s seat, while Waymo operates SAE Level 4 in geofenced areas.

Tech journalist Kirsten Korosec is cited for background coverage and contact information for further verification.

The broader industry context includes past incidents involving Cruise and ongoing regulatory and public perception debates about autonomous driving, presented in a comparative, opinion-informed tone.

Waymo reports a tenfold reduction in serious injuries from crashes in its current operation areas, backed by internal data and peer-reviewed studies, and notes about 450,000 paid driverless trips per week by late 2025.

Regulatory scrutiny accompanies expansion, including NHTSA investigations over how Waymo vehicles interact with stopped school buses and ongoing concerns about safety-related incidents captured on video.

Riders will summon Waymo vehicles through the app, with expansion plans amid competition from other autonomous providers like Tesla.

Waymo partners with Moove to manage fleet operations, charging, cleaning, and repairs for the Miami deployment.

Tesla’s FSD is contrasted with Waymo’s true driverless operation in geofenced areas, highlighting differences in autonomy and road claims.