Waymo Robotaxis Roll Out in Four New Cities as Self-Driving Expansion Accelerates

Waymo is shifting its autonomous taxi strategy into high gear with a major expansion into the Northeast and Midwest. The Alphabet-owned company announced it is bringing its self-driving robotaxi fleet to Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and St. Louis, marking its boldest push yet into cities with real winter weather and challenging road conditions.

The move signals growing confidence in the Waymo Driver, especially as it expands beyond the sun-soaked streets of Phoenix and Los Angeles into regions known for slush, snow, and ice—true stress tests for electric autonomous vehicles.

Three-Stage Deployment: Mapping → Safe-Driver Testing → Driverless Ride-Hailing

Waymo follows a consistent rollout plan whenever it enters a new market:

1. Manual Driving: Human specialists map roads, traffic patterns, signs, and weather conditions.

2. Autonomous Testing With a Safety Driver: The Waymo Driver operates the vehicle while a human monitors the system.

3. Fully Driverless Service: Public robotaxi rides with no one behind the wheel.

Each of the four new cities is at a different stage.

Philadelphia: Already in Autonomous Testing

Philadelphia is the furthest along. Waymo has moved beyond manual mapping and is now:

• Running autonomous test drives

• With a safety specialist in the driver’s seat

• And collecting winter-weather data for future driverless rides

Waymo hasn’t announced launch timing, but early reactions in the city are positive. Accessibility organizations, including Best Buddies, say robotaxis could greatly expand transportation options for people with disabilities.

Pittsburgh: A Return to the Spiritual Home of AV Research

Pittsburgh is no stranger to autonomous vehicles—Carnegie Mellon helped pioneer the entire industry. Here, Waymo will:

• Begin with manual driving using its 5th- and 6th-generation Waymo Driver fleet

• Prepare for autonomous testing on the city’s steep, often icy streets

• Potentially target a 2026 public launch, though no date is confirmed

The city’s unpredictable winter weather makes it an ideal proving ground.

Baltimore and St. Louis: First Mapping Drives Begin This Week

Waymo begins manual driving in both Baltimore and St. Louis immediately.

Baltimore, Maryland

• Waymo will collaborate with state officials on new regulatory frameworks

• Governor Wes Moore publicly supports the deployment, citing safety and economic benefits

• Autonomous testing will follow after mapping is complete

St. Louis, Missouri

• Waymo will deploy its all-electric Jaguar I-PACE test fleet

• Mapping will begin in urban districts to prepare for future robotaxi service

Why These Cities Matter: Snow, Ice, and Complexity

Waymo’s current operational cities—Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin—offer limited cold-weather challenges.
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and St. Louis offer the opposite:

• Snow & slush

• Salted roads

• Frozen lane markings

• Low-visibility winter storms

Handling these conditions is essential for national-scale deployment.

With this phase, Waymo is approaching a turning point where robotaxis are no longer regional experiments but part of a growing nationwide infrastructure.

Toward a National Robotaxi Network

Waymo already operates in five major cities and has announced future mapping in:

• Minneapolis

• Tampa

• Dallas

With the addition of four new Northeast–Midwest metros, the company now has its largest expansion pipeline ever.

Autonomous EVs are edging closer to mainstream adoption — and Waymo’s latest move shows it intends to lead the charge.