Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving tech development unit, has announced plans to expand its operations to Miami. The company will begin testing with human safety drivers in 2025 before launching its commercial robotaxi service through the Waymo One app in 2026.

The service will operate in parts of Miami's metropolitan area, which has over 6 million people. Waymo will deploy its all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs for the service and has partnered with mobility company Moove to manage fleet operations, facilities, and charging infrastructure.

The expansion follows Waymo's successful operations in other cities. It currently handles more than 150,000 paid rides per week in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.

Analyst QuickTake: Waymo launched testing in Miami with a safety driver on board in September 2023. The company also carried out testing in the area in 2019 to validate its self-driving technology. Waymo’s rival General Motors autonomous car subsidiary, Cruise, also launched testing and data collection in Miami in July 2023.