Waymo’s commercial robotaxi ramp-up looks expansive, both in geographic reach and in ridership. And by almost every measure, it is — until you pay attention to where the bulk of those robotaxis are actually showing up.
The numbers over the past two years reflect the kind of commercial rollout you’d expect from a deep-pocketed company like Waymo, which spun out of Google and still counts Alphabet as its majority owner. In September 2024, Waymo was operating in just three cities — Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Today, it offers robotaxi service in 15 U.S. cities, with most of those commercial launches occurring in the past year. Ridership has skyrocketed, too with Waymo now averaging 500,000 paid robotaxi rides every week.
But a closer look at its fleet shows a company concentrating its efforts in just two states. About 80% of Waymo’s roughly 4,000 robotaxis are in California and Texas, and Texas is where the action is now: Waymo’s fleet there has grown by nearly half in the past three weeks, fueled by a new Chinese-built minivan the company is betting will help it scale, even as tariffs drive up its costs.
The other 800 or so vehicles are spread across cities in other states, including Arizona and Florida, another burgeoning hotspot. Most are the familiar white Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs, but a growing share are that new minivan — a modified Zeekr RT that Waymo has branded “Ojai.”
Waymo’s focus on California is no surprise. It is headquartered in Silicon Valley, and much of its early testing and development work was conducted there. Plus, a segment of the population there is inclined to adopt tech at its earliest stages.
The recent growth in Texas is more interesting. Waymo has increased its Texas fleet by 49% in the past three weeks, according to state vehicle registrations and data from the Texas Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Tracker. As of September 24, Waymo had 1,102 autonomous vehicles registered in the state.
Waymo first launched in commercial service in Austin through a partnership with Uber in March 2025, letting riders hail its robotaxis through the uber app. Since then, the company has expanded its robotaxi services in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
Waymo’s Texas fleet remained relatively static for most of the summer, inching up from about 600 vehicles in June to more than 700 by the end of August. Then came September, when the he fleet surged, driven by an influx of new Ojai minivans, which now make up about a third of Waymo’s Texas fleet.
Expect that share to grow.
The Ojai robotaxi, equipped with Waymo’s sixth-generation self-driving system, is supposed to help Waymo reach mass scale. Its interior is built to withstand heavy use, and it comes with an upgraded rider interface and Google’s Gemini AI, which acts as an in-car assistant for riders.
Strip away that technology, though, and the Ojai is a minivan made by Zeekr, a brand owned by China’s Geely Holding Group (which also owns Volvo). The Ojai is built on Zeekr’s SEA-M platform, a shared vehicle platform designed for uses like robotaxis and delivery vans. The base Zeekr vehicles are shipped to the U.S. without any Chinese connected-car technology on board. Once they arrive, the vehicles are sent to Waymo’s Arizona factory, where they are outfitted with Waymo’s self-driving system.
The Ojai is supposed to drive down costs and ultimately help Waymo reach profitability. For now, though, tariffs are cutting any savings. Under current U.S. trade policy, vehicles built in China face steep import tariffs, raising Waymo’s costs for every Ojai it brings into the country.
Waymo appears willing to absorb that cost. New York-based research firm MoffettNathanson, which tracks Ojai imports using detailed shipping records, said in its September report that Waymo is on track to bring 5,100 of the vehicles into the U.S. by the end of the year.
Where will all those Ojai vehicles go? Texas is certainly on the list. But Florida, where Waymo operates in three cities, and newer markets like Las Vegas will likely see an influx as well.
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Key Takeaways
- Concentrated Growth:Despite offering robotaxi services in 15 U.S. cities and averaging 500,000 paid rides weekly, Waymo’s fleet remains highly concentrated, with approximately 80% of its 4,000 robotaxis operating within California and Texas.
- Texas Takes Center Stage:The Lone Star State has emerged as Waymo’s primary growth engine, witnessing a nearly 50% fleet increase in just three weeks. This surge is fueled by strategic partnerships, a receptive market, and a significant influx of new vehicles.
- The “Ojai” Bet:Waymo is aggressively deploying its new “Ojai” minivan, a modified Zeekr RT built in China, as a pivotal component for achieving mass scale and profitability. The company is committed to this strategy, even absorbing substantial import tariffs to bring these vehicles to the U.S.
Waymo’s Two-Speed Expansion: Rapid Reach, Focused Fleet
Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary, has dramatically accelerated its commercial robotaxi rollout. From just three cities in September 2024, the company now boasts a presence in 15 U.S. cities, registering an astounding 500,000 paid rides every week. This expansive footprint paints a picture of ubiquitous robotaxi service, yet a closer examination reveals a more nuanced strategy: Waymo’s formidable fleet is primarily concentrated in just two states.
Of Waymo’s estimated 4,000 robotaxis, a significant 80% are deployed across California and Texas. While its Silicon Valley roots make California a natural stronghold for early adoption and development, Texas has rapidly become the company’s dynamic growth hub. The remaining 800-odd vehicles are spread thinly across other markets, including promising new hotspots like Arizona and Florida. The fleet itself is evolving, with the familiar Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs increasingly supplemented by a new, purpose-built minivan—the “Ojai.”
The Lone Star Surge: Texas Leads Waymo’s Expansion
Texas stands out as a critical battleground for Waymo’s scaling ambitions. According to the Texas Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Tracker and state vehicle registrations, Waymo’s fleet in the state has exploded by 49% in the past three weeks alone, reaching 1,102 autonomous vehicles as of September 24. This rapid acceleration marks a significant shift, especially after the fleet remained relatively static, hovering between 600 and 700 vehicles through the summer months.
The foundation for this Texas push was laid in March 2025, when Waymo initiated commercial service in Austin through a strategic partnership with Uber, allowing riders to seamlessly hail robotaxis via the Uber app. Since then, Waymo has expanded its operations to Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, establishing a robust presence across the state’s major urban centers. The dramatic surge in September was predominantly driven by an influx of the new Ojai minivans, which now constitute roughly a third of Waymo’s Texas fleet—a share expected to grow significantly.
Introducing the Ojai: Waymo’s Vehicle for Mass Scale
The “Ojai” robotaxi represents Waymo’s vision for mass market adoption. This modified Zeekr RT minivan is equipped with Waymo’s cutting-edge sixth-generation self-driving system, designed for enhanced safety and performance. Beyond its autonomous capabilities, the Ojai boasts an interior engineered to withstand the rigors of heavy commercial use, alongside an upgraded rider interface. A standout feature is the integration of Google’s Gemini AI, serving as an intelligent in-car assistant, enhancing the rider experience through conversational support and information.
This vehicle is more than just a tech platform; it’s a strategic asset aimed at driving down operational costs and ultimately guiding Waymo towards profitability. Its design prioritizes durability and user experience, critical factors for sustained commercial success in the robotaxi sector.
Navigating Global Supply Chains and Tariffs
Underneath Waymo’s sophisticated technology, the Ojai is fundamentally a minivan manufactured by Zeekr, a brand under China’s Geely Holding Group, which also owns Volvo. The vehicle is built on Zeekr’s SEA-M platform, a versatile architecture specifically designed for autonomous services like robotaxis and delivery vans. The production process involves shipping the base Zeekr vehicles from China to the U.S., crucially stripped of any Chinese connected-car technology. Upon arrival, these vehicles are then transported to Waymo’s Arizona factory, where they are meticulously outfitted with Waymo’s proprietary self-driving hardware and software.
This global supply chain, however, comes with a significant financial consideration: tariffs. Under current U.S. trade policy, vehicles imported from China are subject to steep tariffs, which directly escalate Waymo’s costs for every Ojai brought into the country. Despite these added expenses, Waymo appears resolute in its strategy. MoffettNathanson, a New York-based research firm that meticulously tracks Ojai imports, reported in September that Waymo is on pace to import an impressive 5,100 of these minivans by the end of the year. This indicates a strong commitment to the Ojai platform, with Waymo evidently willing to absorb the tariff burden to secure its future scaling capabilities.
The Road Ahead: Ambitious Projections and New Horizons
With thousands of new Ojai vehicles on the horizon, Waymo’s expansion blueprint is clearly taking shape. While Texas will undoubtedly continue to be a prime destination for these new additions, other burgeoning markets are also poised for a significant influx. Florida, where Waymo already operates in three cities, and emerging locales such as Las Vegas, are strong candidates to see their robotaxi fleets bolstered by the Ojai. This aggressive deployment underscores Waymo’s intent to solidify its leadership in the autonomous vehicle space, leveraging its concentrated market approach and purpose-built fleet to capture market share.
Bottom Line
Waymo’s robotaxi expansion is a tale of ambitious reach tempered by strategic concentration. While presenting a national footprint, the company is doubling down on key markets like California and especially Texas, leveraging substantial investment and strategic partnerships to drive rapid growth. The “Ojai” minivan, despite its Chinese origins and the burden of import tariffs, is central to Waymo’s vision for mass scale and future profitability. By absorbing these costs and focusing its resources, Waymo is demonstrating a clear, albeit capital-intensive, path to achieving widespread autonomous vehicle adoption, betting heavily on specific regions and purpose-built hardware to solidify its position as a leader in the self-driving revolution.
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