Jonathan Adkins, CEO of the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), praised the safety of Waymo’s self-driving technology:
“I've experienced firsthand how safely the Waymo Driver operates around pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users. Waymo has worked with GHSA and our first responder network as they've expanded their service, always putting safety first. As someone who walks to work almost every day, I'm excited to share the road with Waymo in Washington, D.C.”
Waymo’s Growing Presence in U.S. Cities
Currently, Waymo One operates in:
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
- Silicon Valley
- Phoenix
Additionally, Waymo has begun driving in Austin and Atlanta through its partnership with Uber. The company also plans to launch service in Miami in 2026 via a collaboration with startup Moove.io.
Waymo's Market Lead Over Competitors
Waymo continues to dominate the autonomous ride-hailing market, having completed over 4 million paid autonomous rides in 2024, far ahead of struggling competitors.
Meanwhile:
- General Motors’ Cruise halted operations in December 2024.
- Tesla has yet to manufacture a robotaxi, despite Elon Musk’s decade-long promises of an autonomous fleet.
- Amazon’s Zoox continues road testing across multiple U.S. cities, with plans to start service in Las Vegas before expanding to San Francisco.
D.C. Rollout Plan
Waymo’s D.C. expansion will begin with a series of road trips using the Waymo Driver. Initially, human drivers will manually operate the vehicles to gather city-specific driving data and provide feedback.
“We’ll continue introducing ourselves to D.C.’s communities and emergency responders over the coming months,” Waymo stated. “We’ll also continue to work closely with policymakers to formalize the regulations needed to operate without a human behind the wheel in the District.”
Waymo declined to provide additional comments on its D.C. launch timeline.