Waymo and Zoox expand into more U.S. markets as robotaxi race heats up

Amazon-owned Zoox and Alphabet's Waymo are expanding their autonomous vehicle footprints across the United States as competition in the robotaxi sector accelerates. Waymo announced the launch of paid driverless ride services in Denver, San Diego, and Tampa, Florida, marking its first commercial expansion into Colorado. Meanwhile, Amazon's Zoox revealed plans to commence testing with human safety drivers in Houston and San Diego, bringing its presence to 12 U.S. markets. The commercial developments arrive amid significant market anticipation, with Goldman Sachs Research projecting the U.S. robotaxi market will surge from roughly $3 billion next year to $19 billion by 2030 and reach $48 billion by 2035. Waymo continues to maintain a substantial lead over competitors, operating over 4,000 vehicles across 14 cities and delivering more than 500,000 rides per week, with targets to surpass 1 million weekly rides by late 2026. While expansion accelerates, autonomous vehicle operators continue to face regulatory scrutiny, pushback from labor groups regarding job displacement, and ongoing safety concerns surrounding operations during severe weather or unexpected road hazards.