Waymo Partners With Avis to Manage Dallas Robotaxi Fleet
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The rental car giant will handle charging and maintenance for Waymo’s autonomous Jaguars as the company expands its commercial service into Texas.
Waymo Picks Dallas for Next Robotaxi Launch
Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving car unit, has announced Dallas as the latest city to join its growing commercial robotaxi network, with service expected to begin in 2025.
- This will mark the company’s sixth commercial city, joining Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Riders will hail fully electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles via the Waymo app.
A First-of-Its-Kind Partnership With Avis
In a new strategic move, Waymo is partnering with Avis Budget Group to manage vehicle operations in Dallas.
- Avis will oversee charging, maintenance, and depot operations for Waymo’s fleet.
- This is the first time a rental car company has been tapped to handle robotaxi fleet operations.
“Avis will help us scale faster and more cost-effectively,” said Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli.
Building a Scalable Fleet Strategy
Waymo plans to scale its Dallas fleet to hundreds of vehicles over time, but has not yet disclosed how many will be in the initial rollout.
- Avis’s involvement gives Waymo access to nationwide fleet management expertise, which could accelerate expansion to new cities.
- The two companies plan to extend their partnership beyond Dallas in the coming years.
“This is a pivotal milestone in our evolution,” said Avis CEO Brian Choi, calling it a move from rental cars to full-service mobility infrastructure.
Why Dallas—and Why Now?
Waymo’s move into Dallas follows a familiar pattern:
- Earlier this year, the company conducted a mapping road trip to collect data and test its sensor systems.
- Since then, Waymo has begun testing with human safety drivers, a standard step before moving to fully autonomous operations.
The Texas expansion also continues Waymo’s strategy of incremental, city-by-city rollouts, each supported by local testing and partnerships.
What’s Next for Waymo?
Waymo is also preparing for commercial launches in Washington, D.C., and Miami, expected sometime in 2025.
- Its multi-city growth strategy positions the company as a leading U.S. robotaxi operator, ahead of rivals like Cruise and Zoox in commercial deployments.
- The integration of partners like Avis and Uber into its logistics model hints at a more platform-oriented future, where Waymo handles the autonomy, and partners manage operations and customer access.
