Can’t convince a friend to pick you up from the airport?
Travelers in San Francisco and San Jose will soon have a backup option: hailing a robotaxi via Waymo.
The Alphabet-owned ride-hailing company on Tuesday announced that it’s gotten the OK to start operations at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
Waymo already serves airport passengers in Phoenix, and announced earlier this month that it would soon start offering rides at San Jose Mineta International Airport in California. That move marks “the first step in Waymo’s planned deployment in San Jose,” according to a news release.
“It’s the perfect time for Waymo’s autonomous vehicles to begin to roll into San Jose, the Capital of Silicon Valley,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said in a statement. “With San Jose at the epicenter of the biggest sporting events of 2026, Waymo is an ideal mode of transportation that will help visitors move around the area smoothly and safely.”
Both services will initially be available only to employees before opening up to the public.
Politico reported Sept. 9 that Tesla is seeking regulatory approval to open up its ride-hailing service, which launched in Austin in June, at airports in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose.
Meanwhile, Lyft and Waymo on Wednesday announced a partnership to bring Waymo robotaxis to Nashville in 2026. The companies said in a news release that the service initially would be available via Waymo’s app, “with plans to also dispatch its fleet on Lyft’s network for matched rides later in 2026.”
In other news: Amazon-owned robotaxi company Zoox announced on Sept. 10 that it had debuted its ride-hailing service on and near the Las Vegas Strip. Rides are free for now (Zoox plans to start charging later), and are available through the company’s app. Zoox said it plans to add new destinations to the service over time.
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Zoox is unique in that it uses purpose-built robotaxis without traditional vehicle controls like a steering wheel.
“The autonomous vehicle industry has made remarkable strides this year, bringing us closer to a future of safer, more accessible mobility,” Zoox CEO Aicha Evans said in a statement. “With the launch of our fully driverless ride-hailing service using a purposefully designed robotaxi, we’re thrilled to be part of this groundbreaking journey.”
A waitlist is now open for Zoox’s forthcoming San Francisco service.
Meanwhile, Lyft this month started deploying May Mobility robotaxis on its network in Atlanta. “The service will initially launch as a pilot program available to Lyft riders in the area, with plans to expand service hours and vehicle availability in the months ahead,” according to a news release.
“Our launch with Lyft marks a pivotal moment in the AV industry as we work together to bring driverless operations to Atlanta as part of our goal to deploy more AVs onto the platform over the coming years,” May Mobility CEO and founder Edwin Olson said in a statement.
The companies said they plan to “expand the partnership based on community feedback and operational performance, with potential for additional markets and enhanced service offerings.”