Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, has eliminated the waitlist for its robotaxi service in Dallas, making it accessible to all residents and visitors. This move is part of the company’s broader strategy to expand its self-driving technology in Europe, the UK, and the US.
On Tuesday, Waymo announced that the app is now available for anyone to download, allowing users to easily request a ride from its robotaxis in Dallas.
However, for the time being, rides cannot be booked to Dallas Love Field Airport. The company mentioned that it is still conducting tests with its self-driving cars at the airport and plans to be operational there “soon.”
Waymo has been active in Dallas since last year, when it began trials of its technology on public roads and revealed intentions to launch a full service in the area by 2026. At that time, it entered into a partnership with Avis Budget Group to manage its fleet of electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, with Avis overseeing operations such as vehicle maintenance and charging.
The service was made public in February, but initially, it was accessible only through a waitlist. During this phase, around 150,000 users utilized the Waymo app. Following its established model in other markets like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, the waitlist has now been removed.
Waymo’s launch in Dallas faced some initial challenges. In May, the company temporarily suspended its service in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Atlanta due to issues with the robotaxis navigating heavy rain and flooded streets.
Although services have resumed in these locations, Waymo indicated that it may modify or temporarily halt operations in response to severe weather, flood alerts, and real-time conditions in the future. A representative from Waymo noted that riders can monitor the service status through the Waymo app.
