Waymo to Target 1 Million Weekly Rides by End of 2026

The company plans to expand its robotaxi fleet to 3,500 vehicles to meet its 2026 target for paid ride volume.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Robotics

A close-up of a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor array on an autonomous vehicle, navigating a sunny urban street. — Waymo plans to double its autonomous ride volume to 1 million trips per week by 2026, supported by an expanded fleet of 3,500 vehicles. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you feel comfortable using a driverless robotaxi for your daily commute?

Waymo aims to hit 1 million weekly paid rides by December 31, 2026, by expanding its robotaxi fleet to 3,500 vehicles. The company, which currently operates between 450,000 and 500,000 weekly rides, is scaling service to Seattle and Washington DC while testing in Newark.

Why it matters

Scaling to 1 million rides signals a shift toward mass-market commercial autonomy, necessitating significant fleet growth to meet demand. This expansion tests whether the company can maintain service reliability as it moves beyond its current footprint to operate at this increased volume.

Waymo currently operates 1,500 vehicles and plans to add 2,000 more, totaling 3,500 robotaxis. Independent forecasters estimate the company will reach 775,000 weekly rides by the fourth quarter of 2026, falling short of Waymo's 1 million ride target.

The players

Waymo

An Alphabet subsidiary developing autonomous vehicle hardware and software, currently operating robotaxi fleets across multiple U.S. cities.

The details

Waymo utilizes a sensor suite of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, which uses laser pulses to map surroundings), radar, and cameras to navigate urban environments without human drivers. These robotaxis operate on a deep-learning architecture that processes real-time sensor inputs to identify pedestrians, traffic signs, and other vehicles. The company is actively testing these systems at Newark Liberty International Airport to further refine operations in high-traffic, complex environments.

May 2024: Company reported 50,000 weekly paid rides.
April 15, 2026: Service launched in Miami and Orlando.
June 25, 2026: Nashville service opened to the public.
July 2026: Denver service launched.
December 31, 2026: Target date to reach 1 million weekly paid rides.

The Tech Race

Waymo's expansion strategy positions it against other autonomous vehicle developers racing to demonstrate sustainable high-volume commercial operations. This 1 million ride target builds on the company's established growth pattern throughout 2026, marking a step toward regional density.

Expansion to Seattle and Washington DC will soon broaden the availability of driverless rides to new urban commuter bases. Users in Miami and Orlando should note that a 150,000-person waitlist currently exists for local services.

The takeaway

Reaching 1 million rides per week would establish a new benchmark for autonomous transport at scale. Readers should monitor whether the fleet reaches its 3,500-vehicle capacity by year-end to determine if the company can meet this aggressive volume target.