Waymo hits ~4,000 robotaxis as Texas fleet jumps 49% on new Zeekr minivans
What's the deal? Waymo now runs roughly 4,000 robotaxis across 15 US cities and averages 500,000 paid rides a week, according to fleet data reviewed by TechCrunch. About 80% of the fleet sits in just two states: California and Texas.
Why now? Texas is the fastest-growing market. Waymo's fleet there grew 49% in the past three weeks, jumping from more than 700 vehicles at the end of August to 1,102 registered as of 24 September 2026.
The surge is fuelled by a new minivan — a modified Zeekr RT that Waymo has branded "Ojai". It now makes up about a third of the Texas fleet, a share expected to grow.
What's the endgame? Waymo, the AlphabetDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →-owned self-driving unit, is betting the Ojai will help it scale. The vehicle runs Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system, an upgraded rider interface, and Google's Gemini AI as an in-car assistant.
The base vehicles ship from China without Chinese connected-car tech, then get outfitted with Waymo's system at its Arizona factory. Zeekr is owned by Geely Holding GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, which also owns VolvoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
The expansion: Waymo launched commercial service in Austin through a partnership with Uber in March 2025, and has since expanded to Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Research firm MoffettNathansonDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → says Waymo is on track to bring 5,100 Ojai vehicles into the US by year-end, with Texas, Florida, and newer markets like Las Vegas as likely destinations.
What could go wrong? Tariffs are cutting into the cost savings the Ojai is meant to deliver, raising Waymo's expenses even as it scales.
The signal: Two years ago, Waymo ran in three cities. Its rapid jump to 15 shows how quickly robotaxi service is moving from pilot to commercial reality — and how much that expansion now hinges on cheaper, foreign-built hardware navigating a shifting trade environment.
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
Read more: TechCrunch
