Waymo expands robotaxi service to San Antonio airport

Waymo has officially launched its robotaxi service at San Antonio International Airport, making it the fourth major airport to host the company’s autonomous vehicles. The service, which goes live today, represents the first airport Waymo is servicing in Texas, where the company currently operates in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston. At the airport, the vehicles will drop off riders curbside at the terminals and pick up passengers at the designated rideshare area. Waymo has previously offered airport services at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International, and recently expanded to San Francisco and San Jose Mineta international airports.

The company launched its San Antonio robotaxi service in February, using an invitation-based system that has brought “[t]ens of thousands of people” into the service, according to a company statement on Tuesday. This phased approach is part of a broader growth strategy that includes plans to launch in around 20 new cities this year, including Tokyo and London. The expansion builds on the 10 cities where Waymo’s robotaxi service is currently live, running more than 500,000 paid rides per week. To support this growth, Waymo is expected to start offering rides in its newest vehicle, the Zeekr-built van called Ojai, at some point this year. The company’s operations rely on dozens of remote assistance staff located in the U.S. and the Philippines to help vehicles navigate tricky scenarios, alongside roadside assistance workers.

As it scales, Waymo faces regulatory scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding safety incidents. These regulators are investigating reports that Waymo’s robotaxis have illegally passed school buses that were picking up or dropping off children, particularly in Austin. Additionally, the NHTSA and NTSB are investigating the company after one of its robotaxis crashed into a child at a low speed in Santa Monica. The child reportedly sustained minor injuries in the Santa Monica crash, and Waymo stated its vehicle slowed from 17 miles per hour to six miles per hour before impact.

Why it matters

Waymo is scaling its airport-focused robotaxi strategy as a key part of its goal to enter around 20 new cities this year, balancing rapid growth with ongoing regulatory scrutiny.