Where it came from
Waymo began as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009 and became an independent Alphabet company in 2016. It's the clear leader among US commercial robotaxi operators, running its own full stack of sensors, mapping, and driving software rather than retrofitting someone else's technology.
Coverage in LA
Waymo's LA service launched to paying riders in late 2023, starting small and expanding steadily. The waitlist was scrapped in late 2024, opening the service to any rider through the Waymo One app. Coverage has grown past 120 square miles, spanning Santa Monica, Culver City, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and central LA, with freeway driving added to connect wider stretches of the city.
The fleet
Most of Waymo's LA fleet is the modified Jaguar I-PACE electric SUV. A newer vehicle, nicknamed "Ojai," is built on a 6th-generation Zeekr/Geely platform and finished in Arizona with Waymo's own sensors and software. It adds more legroom and cargo space, sliding doors, multiple in-car screens, accessibility features like Braille signage, and a Gemini AI assistant for riders.
The bigger picture
Company-wide, Waymo delivers roughly 500,000 paid rides a week across more than ten US cities, backed by a $16 billion funding round in 2026 at a $126 billion valuation. Estimates of total fleet size vary by source — figures in the low thousands of vehicles across all its markets combined are commonly cited.
How to book
- Download the Waymo One app — no invite or waitlist required
- Available on iOS and Android
- Rides bookable across the current LA coverage map
Coverage area, fleet figures, and valuation are estimates compiled from public reporting as of September 2026 and may have changed.