Waymo opens Dallas robotaxi service to residents and visitors
Waymo has removed the waitlist for its robotaxi service in Dallas, allowing residents and visitors to download the Waymo app and request a ride immediately. About 150,000 riders used the app while access was restricted, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company said.
The service does not yet include rides to Dallas Love Field Airport. Waymo continues to test its self-driving vehicles there and says it expects to begin serving airport passengers “soon,” although it did not provide a date.
From public-road testing to open access
Waymo established a presence in Dallas last year, when it began testing on public streets and announced plans for a 2026 service launch. It opened the service to the public in February through a waitlist before removing that restriction.
The company is following the launch pattern used in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco: begin with controlled access, then open the service more broadly. The Dallas move also forms part of Waymo’s effort to scale its self-driving technology across the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe.
That wider expansion includes the emerging London robotaxi contest as operators prepare to enter another major urban transport market.
In Dallas, Waymo partnered with Avis Budget Group to manage its fleet of all-electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. Avis is responsible for general depot operations, including charging and vehicle maintenance.
Weather remains an operating constraint
The Dallas rollout has not been uninterrupted. In May, Waymo paused service in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, as well as Atlanta, because its robotaxis encountered problems handling heavy rain and flooded roads.
Operations have since resumed in those cities. However, Waymo says it may adjust or temporarily suspend service in response to severe weather, flood warnings and real-time conditions. Riders can check current availability in the Waymo app.
What businesses should account for
Removing the waitlist makes robotaxi access simpler, but it does not make the service universal. Dallas Love Field Airport remains outside the available journey set, while severe weather can still lead to adjustments or temporary pauses.
Companies considering robotaxis for employee or visitor travel should therefore verify route coverage and live service status rather than treating the network as a direct replacement for every ground-transport option. Practical travel policies should retain alternatives for airport journeys and weather-related interruptions.