Waymo has announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in Dallas next year, expanding its commercial presence to another major city alongside Los Angeles and San Francisco. For this launch, Waymo is teaming up with Avis Budget Group, which will oversee general depot operations for the fleet of electric, autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. As part of their role, Avis will handle vehicle charging and maintenance, while riders can request a robotaxi through the Waymo app.

This collaboration marks the first time Waymo has partnered with a rental car company to manage its fleet. 

“Avis will play a large role helping the company scale its technology to new markets faster and more cost-effectively,” said Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli. 

He also noted that Waymo and Avis Budget Group intend “to expand to more cities together over time.” Waymo previously partnered with Uber in Austin and Atlanta, and with Moove in Phoenix, but this new alliance with Avis could pave the way for further growth.

Bonelli did not specify the launch date or reveal how many vehicles will be included in the initial Dallas fleet. However, he explained that Waymo will increase the number of vehicles with Avis “to hundreds of vehicles over time.”

Avis Budget Group CEO Brian Choi described the partnership as a “pivotal milestone in its evolution, from a rental car company to a leading provider of fleet management, infrastructure and operations to the broader mobility ecosystem.”

Waymo’s move into Dallas follows a recent mapping “road trip,” where the company collected data and began test drives using safety operators on city roads. As in other cities, Waymo will shift to fully driverless testing once it completes further validation in Dallas.

Currently, Waymo operates commercially in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area, with plans to launch services next year in Washington, D.C., and Miami.

Citations:

Korosec, Kristen. “Waymo taps Avis to manage robotaxi fleet in Dallas.” Techcrunch, Techcrunch, 28 July 2025, https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/28/waymo-taps-avis-to-manage-robotaxi-fleet-in-dallas/. Accessed 28 July 2025.