Waymo to launch robotaxis in Dallas with support from Avis
Waymo, the autonomous driving unit under Alphabet Inc., has announced plans to expand its commercial robotaxi service to Dallas in 2026. This strategic move strengthens Waymo's growing footprint in the self-driving vehicle sector, adding to its current operations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta, and Phoenix.
The company’s expansion into Dallas will be backed by a new partnership with Avis Budget Group, marking the first time Waymo has joined forces with a rental car company to manage its fleet. Avis will oversee critical depot operations such as vehicle maintenance and charging for Waymo’s all-electric, autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles.
Users in Dallas will be able to hail Waymo’s robotaxis via its dedicated app, similar to its services in other cities. While the company has previously collaborated with Uber and Moove to support operations in various locations, the Avis partnership represents a deeper integration into the broader mobility ecosystem. Both companies have expressed interest in expanding their collaboration to additional markets in the future.
Chris Bonelli, a spokesperson for Waymo, highlighted Avis’s pivotal role in helping the company deploy its technology more efficiently across new cities. The partnership, he said, is designed to accelerate Waymo’s scalability while managing costs effectively. Although specific launch dates and initial fleet numbers have not been disclosed, Bonelli confirmed that the service will scale up to include hundreds of vehicles over time.
Dallas was a natural next step for Waymo. Earlier this year, the company conducted extensive mapping and testing in the city as part of one of its signature “road trips.” Since then, Waymo has begun testing its autonomous vehicles on public roads in Dallas, currently with human safety operators behind the wheel. Following a familiar rollout strategy, Waymo will advance to fully driverless operations once its systems have been validated under local conditions.
Avis Budget Group CEO Brian Choi described the collaboration as a milestone in the company's evolution. “This partnership signals our transformation from a traditional rental car company to a leader in fleet management and mobility operations,” Choi said.
The Dallas launch is one of several upcoming expansions for Waymo. The company has announced plans to bring its robotaxi services to Washington, D.C., and Miami in 2026, as it continues to solidify its leadership in autonomous ride-hailing technology.
As competition heats up in the autonomous driving space, Waymo’s ability to build strategic partnerships and scale operations efficiently could prove critical in defining the future of urban mobility.
