Waymo launches robotaxis
Waymo rolled out fully autonomous robotaxi rides open to the public in Miami and Orlando, including highway driving and immediate hails through its app, and the service announcement drew social attention with about 1,945 likes and 173k views on the platform where it was shared (x.com). The public service area map and follow-up posts confirm the cars are operating in both cities now, with users able to summon rides via the app immediately (x.com).
Waymo has opened its driverless taxi service to anyone in Miami and Orlando, letting riders book autonomous trips directly in its app. (waymo.com) Waymo said April 15 that residents and visitors in both cities can now download the Waymo app and hail rides immediately, ending the invite-only phase that had been running for months. (waymo.com) The company said it had already served more than 150,000 riders from its initial interest list across Miami and Orlando before the wider public launch. Miami riders can also opt in to highway trips, while Orlando service remains on local streets. (waymo.com; mynews13.com) Waymo’s Florida expansion has moved in stages since late 2024. The company said in December 2024 that it planned to open Miami rides in 2026 through the Waymo One app, and it began inviting Miami riders on January 22, 2026. (waymo.com; waymo.com) Orlando joined Waymo’s public rollout on February 24, 2026, when the company opened limited rider access there alongside Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Waymo said that launch brought its commercial metro count to 10. (waymo.com) The service uses Waymo’s self-driving system, which drives the vehicle without a person in the front seat. Waymo says its ride-hailing service runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that its vehicles have logged more than 20 million miles on public roads. (waymo.com; waymo.com) Florida is one of several places where Waymo has been widening commercial service after years of testing. In November 2025, the company said fully autonomous operations were starting in Miami and would expand to Orlando and three Texas cities ahead of rider service in 2026. (waymo.com) Local coverage in Florida said the Orlando service area spans about 60 miles and includes neighborhoods such as Parramore, Williamsburg, Florida Center, and Southwest Orlando. Miami television stations reported that Waymo had already been available to more than 100,000 users there before the full public opening. (clickorlando.com; nbcmiami.com) The immediate question now is whether open access in Miami and Orlando produces the same steady demand Waymo has been chasing in other cities. In Florida, the waitlist is gone, the app is live, and the cars are already taking fares. (waymo.com)
