Waymo to Debut in Biggest Texas Cities After New York Setback

Core Insights - Waymo is launching a commercial robotaxi service in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, Texas, as part of its expansion strategy following a setback in New York [1][2] - The service will initially operate in designated zones ranging from 25 to 60 square miles, depending on the city [1][5] - Waymo aims to expand its service to over 20 cities globally, including major international capitals and other U.S. locations [2] Expansion Plans - The rollout in Texas follows Waymo's previous autonomous ride offerings in Austin through the Uber app [3] - The company has been testing its services in the new Texas cities for several months prior to the launch [5] - Waymo's coverage in Texas will be smaller compared to its operations in San Francisco, where it covers 260 square miles [5] Service Details - In Houston, the service will operate within a 38-mile loop encircling downtown, while Dallas will cover 50 square miles and San Antonio will span 60 square miles, including key tourist sites [6] - Initially, Waymo will invite select riders from its app users in these cities, with plans to expand to all users later this year [5] Fleet Management - During the initial launch, Waymo will manage its own fleet and depot operations in Texas and Orlando [8] - Later in the year, Avis Budget Group will take over fleet management responsibilities in Dallas as part of a previously announced agreement [8] - Future fleet management in the other Texas cities may involve existing partners, such as Moove and Avomo, which currently manage operations in Miami, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta [9]