Waymo taps Avis to manage robotaxi fleet in Dallas

Group 1 - Waymo plans to launch a robotaxi service in Dallas next year, expanding its commercial operations which already include Los Angeles and San Francisco [1][6] - The company is partnering with Avis Budget Group to manage its fleet of all-electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, with Avis handling depot operations such as charging and maintenance [1][2] - Waymo has previously partnered with companies like Uber and Moove, but this marks the first collaboration with a rental car company, indicating a potential for future expansions to other cities [2] Group 2 - Waymo has conducted preliminary testing in Dallas, including mapping the city and testing autonomous vehicles on public roads with a human safety operator [3] - The fleet is expected to scale to hundreds of vehicles over time, although specific launch dates and initial fleet size have not been disclosed [4] - Waymo currently operates commercially in five cities and plans to launch services in Washington, D.C., and Miami next year [6]