Chips & Hardware
Waymo drops the waitlist for its Dallas robotaxi service
Waymo has opened its robotaxi service in Dallas to all residents and visitors, dropping the waitlist it used since a February public launch that drew about 150,000 riders.
Waymo said Tuesday that anyone can now download its app and immediately hail one of its self-driving vehicles in Dallas, ending a waitlist that had limited access since the service opened to the public in February. The Alphabet-owned company said about 150,000 riders used the Waymo app in Dallas during that waitlisted period. Dropping the waitlist follows what Waymo calls its standard robotaxi playbook, already used in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
The move is the latest step in Waymo’s push to scale self-driving technology across Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The company has operated in Dallas since last year, when it began testing on public streets ahead of a planned 2026 launch, partnering with Avis Budget Group to manage its fleet of all-electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. Avis handles depot operations, including charging and maintenance.
For now, riders in Dallas won’t be able to hail a ride to Dallas Love Field Airport; Waymo said it continues testing there and expects to serve airport riders “soon.”
The Dallas rollout has not been free of setbacks. In May, Waymo paused service in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as Atlanta, after its robotaxis had trouble handling heavy rain and flooded roads. Service has since resumed in all four cities, but Waymo said it may adjust or temporarily pause operations again based on severe weather, flood warnings, or real-time conditions. A company spokesperson said riders can check service status through the Waymo app.
Why it matters
Removing the waitlist signals Waymo’s confidence that its Dallas operation — and the weather-related fixes made since May — can handle full public demand, a milestone other US markets have already cleared on the way to broader robotaxi scale-up.