Why this market is moving now
- Waymo reached 500,000 paid rides a week in 15 US cities by September 2026.
- NHTSA granted Zoox the first commercial exemption for a purpose-built robotaxi on 30 July 2026.
- Tesla began Cybercab Robotaxi rides in Austin on 3 September 2026.
- Waymo is preparing over 20 more cities for 2026.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waymo averages about 500,000 paid robotaxi rides every week in the US, as of September 2026. | 500,000 paid rides per week | 2026 | TechCrunch |
| Waymo offers robotaxi service in 15 US cities as of September 2026, most of them launched in the past year. | 15 US cities | 2026 | TechCrunch |
| Waymo's fleet is roughly 4,000 robotaxis, about 80% of them in California and Texas. | 4,000 robotaxis (approximate) | 2026 | TechCrunch |
| Waymo had 1,102 autonomous vehicles registered in Texas as of 24 September 2026. | 1,102 vehicles registered in Texas | 2026 | TechCrunch |
| Waymo said it served over 14 million trips in 2025 (a footnote on the same page later puts the year at 15 million rides). | 14 million trips (over) | 2025 | Waymo |
| Waymo began serving over 1 million fully autonomous rides every month in spring 2025. | 1 million rides per month (over) | 2025 | Waymo |
| Waymo said in December 2025 it was laying groundwork for ride-hailing in over 20 additional cities in 2026. | 20 additional cities planned for 2026 (over) | 2026 | Waymo |
| In July 2026 NHTSA gave Zoox the first commercial exemption for a purpose-built robotaxi, so it can plan to charge for rides, starting in Las Vegas. | 1 first commercial NHTSA exemption for a purpose-built robotaxi | 2026 | TechCrunch |
| Tesla reported nearly two million cumulative unsupervised miles on its Robotaxi service by the end of Q3 2026. | 2 million cumulative unsupervised miles (nearly) | 2026 | Tesla |
| Tesla said cumulative unsupervised Robotaxi miles grew eightfold from Q2 to Q3 2026. | 8 x quarter-over-quarter growth | 2026 | Tesla |
| Tesla started providing Robotaxi rides in Cybercabs in Austin on 3 September 2026. | 3 September 2026 start date of Cybercab rides in Austin | 2026 | Tesla |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- TechCrunch: Waymo is scaling fast: Here's what the fleet data shows (2026-09-24)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
Ridership has skyrocketed, too, with Waymo now averaging 500,000 paid robotaxi rides every week.
- Figure 2
Today, it offers robotaxi service in 15 U.S. cities, with most of those commercial launches occurring in the past year.
- Figure 3
About 80% of Waymo's roughly 4,000 robotaxis are in California and Texas, and Texas is where the action is now:
- Figure 4
As of September 24, Waymo had 1,102 autonomous vehicles registered in the state.
- Figure 1
- Waymo: Delivering more for our riders in a year of incredible growth (2025-12-10)
Quoted lines
- Figure 5
we served over 14 million trips so far in 2025 alone
- Figure 6
we began serving over 1 million fully autonomous rides every month
- Figure 7
we're laying the early groundwork for ride-hailing operations in over 20 additional cities in 2026
- Figure 5
- TechCrunch: Zoox clears final federal hurdle to launch paid robotaxi service (2026-07-30)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
We are honored to receive the first-ever commercial exemption for a purpose-built robotaxi from NHTSA
- Figure 8
- Tesla: Q3 2026 Update (2026-10)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
We reached nearly two million cumulative unsupervised miles for our Robotaxi service as of the end of the quarter.
- Figure 10
Cumulative unsupervised Robotaxi miles grew eightfold quarter over quarter, driven by sustained double-digit weekly growth.
- Figure 11
We started providing Robotaxi rides using Cybercabs on September 3 in Austin.
- Figure 9
Companies to watch
Waymo
Averages 500,000 paid rides a week with a fleet of roughly 4,000 robotaxis, per TechCrunch.
Tesla
Reports nearly two million cumulative unsupervised Robotaxi miles and began Cybercab rides in Austin in September 2026.
Zoox
Received NHTSA's first-ever commercial exemption for a purpose-built robotaxi in July 2026, per TechCrunch.
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the United States market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
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Frequently asked questions
How many paid rides does Waymo give per week?
TechCrunch reported on 24 September 2026 that Waymo averages 500,000 paid robotaxi rides every week.
How many cities does Waymo operate in?
TechCrunch says Waymo offered robotaxi service in 15 US cities as of September 2026, most launched in the past year.
How big is Waymo's fleet?
TechCrunch puts Waymo's fleet at roughly 4,000 robotaxis, about 80% in California and Texas. Waymo had 1,102 vehicles registered in Texas on 24 September 2026.
How many trips did Waymo complete in 2025?
Waymo said it served over 14 million trips in 2025, more than tripling its annual volume.
Is Tesla running robotaxis without a safety driver?
Tesla's Q3 2026 update reports nearly two million cumulative unsupervised Robotaxi miles and Cybercab rides in Austin since 3 September 2026.
What is Zoox's regulatory status?
NHTSA granted Zoox the first commercial exemption for a purpose-built robotaxi in July 2026, per TechCrunch. Zoox plans to start charging in Las Vegas.
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