From TechCrunch · Kirsten Korosec · · 2m
Waymo's robotaxi boom is really a Texas surge
Waymo operates in 15 cities and averages 500,000 weekly rides, but 80% of its fleet is concentrated in just two states, with Texas seeing explosive growth.
In brief
Waymo operates in 15 cities and averages 500,000 weekly rides, but 80% of its fleet is concentrated in just two states, with Texas seeing explosive growth. Waymo's rapid expansion across 15 U.S. cities masks a heavy concentration in California and Texas, where new Chinese-built minivans are driving a 49% fleet surge…
Waymo's rapid geographic expansion
Waymo now operates robotaxi service in 15 U.S. cities, up from just three in September 2024. The company averages 500,000 paid robotaxi rides every week.
The concentration problem
Despite operating across 15 cities, about 80% of Waymo's roughly 4,000 robotaxis are concentrated in just California and Texas, with the other 800 vehicles spread across other states.
Texas becomes the action center
Waymo's Texas fleet has grown by nearly half in the past three weeks, fueled by a new Chinese-built minivan called the Ojai that the company is betting will help it scale.
The Texas surge in numbers
As of September 24, Waymo had 1,102 autonomous vehicles registered in Texas. The fleet surged in September after remaining relatively static through the summer, growing from about 600 vehicles in June.
The Ojai minivan strategy
The Ojai is a modified Zeekr RT minivan built on Zeekr's SEA-M platform. Equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system and Google's Gemini AI, it now makes up about a third of Waymo's Texas fleet.
Tariffs threaten cost savings
The Ojai is built in China by Zeekr, a brand owned by Geely Holding Group. Vehicles are shipped to Waymo's Arizona factory for self-driving system installation, but steep U.S. import tariffs are raising costs.
Waymo's import plans despite tariffs
Research firm MoffettNathanson reports Waymo is on track to bring 5,100 Ojai vehicles into the U.S. by the end of the year, despite tariff costs cutting into expected savings.
Where the Ojais will go next
Texas will receive many of the incoming Ojai vehicles, but Florida, where Waymo operates in three cities, and newer markets like Las Vegas will likely see an influx as well.
What to remember
Waymo's rapid expansion across 15 U.S. cities masks a heavy concentration in California and Texas, where new Chinese-built minivans are driving a 49% fleet surge in three weeks.
