Waymo has been quietly expanding its robotaxi service across the US, adding four more cities to its growing list of test markets. Philadelphia joins its existing pilot locations in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta, Austin, and the San Francisco Bay Area, where fully autonomous vehicles are already being deployed.
In these new additions - Baltimore, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh - human safety monitors will be present during trials, although Waymo plans to eventually roll out self-driving cars without any human presence. The company has been gradually phasing in its autonomous taxis, starting with a supervisory and data-collecting stage before making the switch.
Waymo's nationwide expansion is being driven by state law changes that are allowing for more flexible regulations on autonomous vehicles. New York City, however, remains a hurdle due to strict local laws prohibiting the operation of vehicles without a human driver. Although Waymo was granted permission to test AVs in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn last summer, its long-term plans remain unclear.
Despite this challenge, Waymo is aggressively pushing forward with international ambitions. In 2026, it will launch a robotaxi service in London, partnering with Moove to bring the technology to the UK for the first time. While fully driverless cars are currently banned in the country, new legislation is on the horizon that will pave the way for government-approved pilots and eventually widespread adoption.
As Waymo continues to expand its test markets, it's clear that the company sees itself as a leader in the autonomous vehicle space - albeit with some local and national regulatory hurdles still to overcome.
In these new additions - Baltimore, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh - human safety monitors will be present during trials, although Waymo plans to eventually roll out self-driving cars without any human presence. The company has been gradually phasing in its autonomous taxis, starting with a supervisory and data-collecting stage before making the switch.
Waymo's nationwide expansion is being driven by state law changes that are allowing for more flexible regulations on autonomous vehicles. New York City, however, remains a hurdle due to strict local laws prohibiting the operation of vehicles without a human driver. Although Waymo was granted permission to test AVs in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn last summer, its long-term plans remain unclear.
Despite this challenge, Waymo is aggressively pushing forward with international ambitions. In 2026, it will launch a robotaxi service in London, partnering with Moove to bring the technology to the UK for the first time. While fully driverless cars are currently banned in the country, new legislation is on the horizon that will pave the way for government-approved pilots and eventually widespread adoption.
As Waymo continues to expand its test markets, it's clear that the company sees itself as a leader in the autonomous vehicle space - albeit with some local and national regulatory hurdles still to overcome.
This is so cool! I mean, who wouldn't want to hop in a self-driving taxi? 
It's like something out of a sci-fi movie! But at the same time, it's good that they're adding human safety monitors to the new cities - just to be sure everyone is safe and sound. 
Also, I'm intrigued by London being next... do you think it'll happen? 
The fact that they're adding cities like Baltimore, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh to their test markets is super cool. And it's awesome that human safety monitors are on board to start - I can imagine it's a big step towards making these cars autonomous for real.
London is such a massive city, so to think that Waymo will be bringing robotaxis there is mind-blowing. Of course, there are still those pesky regulations to navigate, but I've got faith in the team. They're making some awesome progress and it's clear they see themselves as leaders in this space.
, and even planning to launch in London next year! But you know what's kinda weird? They're still gotta deal with humans watching over them 
in some cities. Like, I get it, safety first, but can't they just make it autonomous already? 
And what's up with New York City? All these new laws and stuff... maybe one day 
... I mean, Waymo is literally setting up shop all over the country, but can't they just get past New York City already?! 
it's like, I know the city's got a reputation for being tough to navigate, but come on! They're basically begging us to be one of the first cities to adopt this tech. And with London coming soon, too... what's going on over there?! Do they just not get it?! 
it's like we're finally taking a step towards the future.
i think its good that they have human safety monitors in these new cities but what happens when those monitors arent around? 
.
I mean, sure, there are still some regulatory hurdles to overcome, but come on, progress over caution, you feel me? 
. I think it's awesome that they're being cautious though, with human safety monitors in place initially. It's only natural to have a human touch for now 
. I'm curious about how London will go down though 
. Still, Waymo's the one pushing boundaries and exploring what's possible – that's what innovation's all about! 
think about all the jobs lost, not to mention safety concerns... i mean what if something goes wrong? who's gonna be responsible? 
I love how they're testing out human safety monitors first, it's all about ensuring everyone's safe on the road 
. Can't wait to see them launch in London next year!