Waymo to begin manual drives in Minneapolis, Tampa and New Orleans, aims to open service in 2026

Core Insights - Waymo is expanding its robotaxi services to Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans with plans for manual driving tests before launching driverless services next year, potentially increasing its 2026 expansion list to 15 cities [1][2] - The company is also set to operate driverless vehicles in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Miami, and Orlando in the coming weeks, with public service expected next year [2] - Waymo's current operations include over 250,000 weekly paid trips across several markets, with more than 10 million paid rides since its launch in 2020 [4] Expansion Plans - Waymo aims to validate its technology in Minneapolis, Tampa, and New Orleans before committing to 2026 service launches, emphasizing a safety-first approach [3] - The company has previously announced plans to expand to cities like Detroit, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, San Diego, Washington, D.C., and London by 2026 [2] Operational Milestones - Waymo recently began offering freeway routes in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, marking a significant milestone for the robotaxi industry [4][5] - The company plans to operate in regions with harsh winter conditions, including Minneapolis, as part of its strategy to navigate challenging weather [5][6] - Waymo is currently capable of operating in freezing temperatures and is validating its system for harsher weather conditions [6]