Waymo Partners With Avis to Manage Dallas Robotaxi Fleet
▼ Summary
– Waymo plans to launch a robotaxi service in Dallas next year, expanding its commercial operations beyond cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
– Waymo is partnering with Avis Budget Group to manage its fleet of autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, including charging and maintenance.
– This marks Avis Budget Group’s first collaboration with Waymo as a fleet manager, with plans to expand the partnership to other cities in the future.
– Waymo has already conducted initial testing in Dallas, mapping the city and testing vehicles with human safety operators before progressing to full autonomy.
– Waymo currently operates commercially in five cities and plans to expand to Washington, D.C., and Miami next year.
Waymo is expanding its autonomous ride-hailing service to Dallas, marking another milestone in its nationwide rollout. The Alphabet-owned company has teamed up with Avis Budget Group to manage its fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, handling everything from charging to maintenance. Customers will book rides through the Waymo app, continuing the company’s strategy of integrating its technology with established mobility partners.
This collaboration represents a first for Waymo, Avis is the initial rental car company to join its fleet management network, signaling a shift in how autonomous vehicle services scale. Previous partnerships, like those with Uber and Moove, focused on ride-hailing integration rather than operational support. Chris Bonelli, a Waymo spokesperson, emphasized that Avis’s expertise will help accelerate deployment in new markets while keeping costs manageable. The alliance isn’t limited to Dallas; both companies plan to expand their joint operations to additional cities in the future.
Dallas isn’t an unexpected choice for Waymo’s next launch. Earlier this year, the company conducted extensive mapping and preliminary testing in the city using its sensor-equipped vehicles. Since then, autonomous trials with safety drivers have been underway on public roads. As with previous rollouts, Waymo will transition to fully driverless operations once its technology proves reliable in Dallas’s unique urban environment.
While exact launch dates and fleet sizes remain undisclosed, Bonelli confirmed that the service will start modestly before scaling to hundreds of vehicles. Brian Choi, CEO of Avis Budget Group, framed the partnership as a strategic evolution, positioning the rental giant as a key player in next-generation mobility infrastructure.
Currently, Waymo operates commercial robotaxi services in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area, with plans to expand to Washington, D.C., and Miami next year. The Dallas rollout underscores Waymo’s methodical approach, validating its technology in diverse urban landscapes before committing to full-scale operations. With Avis now in the mix, the company gains a logistical edge as it pushes toward broader adoption.
(Source: TechCrunch)
