Waymo has opened its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the general public in San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa, allowing anyone in the three cities to download the Waymo app and book a driverless ride as of October 14, 2026.
The expansion follows the company’s earlier service launches in the three markets in 2026. Waymo said it has welcomed hundreds of thousands of riders across the cities, with trips including journeys to beaches, hockey games, San Antonio’s Riverwalk and grocery stores.
The company said the service is intended to provide additional transportation options for residents and visitors. However, the announcement did not disclose city-specific ridership figures or detailed service-area coverage.
Driverless Rides at San Antonio International Airport
The public launch includes fully autonomous rides at San Antonio International Airport, providing another option for travelers arriving in or departing from the city.
Jesus Saenz, Director of Airports for the City of San Antonio Aviation, said the airport aims to incorporate new technology as it develops its future operations. He described the introduction of Waymo’s autonomous rides as a milestone for the company, the city and airport users.
Saenz said the service would give visitors traveling downtown and local residents heading to early-morning flights another transportation option.
Advocates Highlight Mobility Access
In San Diego, Bob Kelly, founder and CEO of the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, highlighted the potential role of autonomous transportation in supporting older adults.
Kelly said transportation is closely linked to independence for seniors, adding that self-driving technology could help expand access to mobility options for people seeking to remain active and connected to their communities.
In Tampa, Scott Young, board chair of Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision, pointed to transportation challenges faced by people who are blind or have significant vision loss.
Young said many of the organisation’s clients can no longer drive and depend on family members, friends or other people for transportation.
“With Waymo, they get their independence back,”
Young said in Waymo’s announcement.
The comments highlight accessibility as one potential application of autonomous ride-hailing, although the announcement did not provide independent data on the service’s impact on mobility for older adults or people with visual impairments.
Expansion Across Three Markets
The public opening gives residents and visitors in San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa access to Waymo’s driverless ride-hailing service through its app. The inclusion of San Antonio International Airport also extends the service to airport-related journeys.
Waymo’s latest expansion comes as the company broadens its airport operations and secures funding for further growth. Previously, Waymo began offering driverless rides to and from Nashville International Airport (BNA), with access rolling out gradually and riders receiving notifications through the Waymo app when the service becomes available to them.
The Alphabet-owned company has also secured $5 billion in debt financing from a group of institutional lenders to support the expansion of its robotaxi operations across the United States and prepare for entry into additional international markets. The developments reflect Waymo’s parallel efforts to expand its service footprint and finance its next phase of growth.
