Waymo scales robotaxi fleet to 4,000 vehicles, but growth concentrated in two states

Texas fleet surges 49% in three weeks, driven by Chinese-built Ojai minivans despite tariff costs

By LineZotpaper

Published25 September 2026

Read Time3 min

Waymo, the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company, now operates roughly 4,000 robotaxis across 15 U.S. cities and averages 500,000 paid rides per week, according to fleet data. However, about 80% of its vehicles are concentrated in California and Texas, with the majority of recent growth driven by a new Chinese-built minivan called the Ojai — a modified Zeekr RT that carries tariffs that are raising costs.

Waymo’s commercial robotaxi expansion has accelerated markedly over the past year. In September 2024, the company operated paid service in just three cities — Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Today, it offers robotaxi rides in 15 U.S. cities, with most commercial launches occurring in the past year. Ridership has climbed to an average of 500,000 paid trips per week.

Despite that geographic breadth, a closer examination of Waymo’s fleet reveals a company concentrating its resources in two states. As of late September, about 80% of Waymo’s approximately 4,000 autonomous vehicles were registered in California and Texas. The remaining 800 or so vehicles are spread across other cities, including in Arizona and Florida.

Texas has become the focal point of recent growth. Waymo’s fleet in the state grew by 49% in the three weeks ending September 24, reaching 1,102 vehicles, according to state registration data and the Texas Autonomous Vehicle Fleet Tracker. The fleet had remained relatively static through the summer, inching from about 600 vehicles in June to more than 700 by late August, before a September surge driven by an influx of new Ojai minivans. Those minivans now make up roughly a third of Waymo’s Texas fleet, and that share is expected to grow.

The Ojai is a modified Zeekr RT minivan built on Zeekr’s SEA-M platform, a shared vehicle architecture designed for robotaxis and delivery vans. Zeekr is owned by China’s Geely Holding Group, which also owns Volvo. The base vehicles are shipped to the United States without any Chinese connected-car technology. Once they arrive, Waymo outfits them with its sixth-generation self-driving system at a factory in Arizona. The Ojai also includes an upgraded rider interface and Google’s Gemini AI as an in-car assistant.

Waymo designed the Ojai to help drive down costs and reach mass scale, but the minivan’s Chinese origin subjects it to steep U.S. import tariffs. The company appears willing to absorb that cost for now, betting that the vehicle’s purpose-built interior and lower base price will ultimately support profitability.

Waymo first launched commercial service in Austin through a partnership with Uber in March 2025, allowing riders to hail robotaxis via the Uber app. It has since expanded to Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Waymo’s fleet concentration in just two states means most U.S. cities still lack access to autonomous ride-hailing, even as the company touts rapid expansion.
Reliance on a Chinese-built vehicle exposes Waymo to tariff risks and trade policy uncertainty, potentially affecting long-term unit economics.
The shift to a purpose-built robotaxi (Ojai) signals a maturing industry moving from retrofitted consumer vehicles to custom platforms.

Background

Waymo began as Google’s self-driving car project in 2009 and became a standalone Alphabet subsidiary in 2016. It launched the first fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Phoenix in 2020. For years, its fleet consisted mainly of modified Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs. The company has been under pressure to scale commercially and demonstrate a path to profitability, while competitors like Cruise and Zoox (Amazon) have faced setbacks. Geely, owner of Zeekr, is a major Chinese automaker that has partnered with Waymo to supply the base vehicle for the Ojai.

Key Perspectives

Waymo: The company views rapid geographic expansion and the custom Ojai vehicle as key to reaching mass scale and eventual profitability, absorbing tariff costs as a short-term investment. Critics: Some analysts point out that most of Waymo’s vehicles remain in a handful of metro areas, and that tariffs on the Ojai undermine its cost advantage. The limited diversity in fleet geography may also indicate slower-than-expected regulatory approvals in other states. Geely/Zeekr partnership: For Zeekr, the Waymo deal provides a global showcase for its modular EV platform, but ongoing trade tensions between the US and China could threaten the relationship.

What to Watch

Whether Waymo registers significant vehicle counts in additional states (e.g., Florida, Arizona) to reduce geographic concentration.
Any changes to US tariff policy on Chinese-built vehicles, which would directly affect the Ojai’s cost structure.
Competition from other robotaxi operators, particularly in Texas, where multiple autonomous vehicle companies are testing or launching service.

Sources

Waymo is scaling fast. Here’s what the fleet data shows. — TechCrunch