Robotaxis Enter Major Cities. The Auto Industry Accelerates the Transition to Autonomous Mobility
Robotaxis are expanding rapidly in major cities in the US and China, and the auto industry is investing billions of dollars in autonomous transportation. Companies such as Waymo, Tesla, Baidu, and Pony.ai are increasing their commercial fleets and testing new driverless services. In 2026, autonomous mobility becomes one of the most important economic and technological bets of the global auto industry. Authorities are simultaneously trying to adapt legislation to the rapid development of these systems.
Robotaxis Become the New Strategic Front of the Global Auto Industry
In the past two years, robotaxis have moved from the experimental phase to a stage of accelerated commercial expansion, especially in the United States and China. Major technology companies and automakers are trying to turn autonomous transportation into an economic model capable of reducing urban mobility service costs and generating recurring revenue from driverless rides.
The auto industry is investing heavily in the development of autonomous vehicles, AI-based systems, and the infrastructure needed to operate autonomous fleets. According to several estimates published in 2026, the global robotaxi market could exceed the $100 billion mark in the next decade, driven by the rapid expansion of commercial autonomous services in major cities.
Waymo, the company controlled by Alphabet, remains the leader of the US market. Waymo is accelerating the expansion of its autonomous fleets and preparing the launch of a new generation of robotaxis developed together with Chinese manufacturer Zeekr. The new model, called Ojai, is built specifically for autonomous urban transport and is part of the company's strategy to rapidly increase the number of driverless vehicles in major US cities.
The Ojai vehicles, painted in a pale blue shade, have already begun transporting passengers in California and Arizona, according to information published by Wired. The model uses Waymo's sixth-generation autonomous system and integrates lidar sensors, cameras, and radars for urban navigation.
The project is carried out together with the Chinese group Geely, owner of Zeekr, highlighting the global scale of investments and partnerships in the autonomous mobility industry. The launch of the new fleet comes at a time when competition between the US and China for dominance of the robotaxi market is intensifying strongly.
Robotaxis from Waymo are already operating in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin, where they perform hundreds of thousands of rides weekly. The company recently announced the introduction of a new generation of autonomous vehicles developed together with manufacturer Zeekr, in a project aimed at rapidly expanding commercial fleets.
According to data published this year, Waymo performed approximately 15 million autonomous rides in 2025 and attracted new funding that raised the company's valuation to around $126 billion.
Important data about the robotaxi market in 2026:
- Waymo operates commercial autonomous services in several US cities;
- Pony.ai aims to reach about 3,500 autonomous vehicles in 2026;
- WeRide estimates delivering about 2,000 GXR robotaxis this year;
- The global robotaxi market could exceed $96 billion by 2034;
- Annual growth rates for the industry exceed 70% in some analyses.
China Accelerates Autonomous Mobility Development and Enters Direct Competition with the US
Robotaxis also represent a new technological competition ground between the United States and China, the two markets currently dominating the development of commercial autonomous services.
The Apollo Go platform, controlled by Baidu, already operates commercial services in several Chinese cities, including Wuhan and Beijing. In certain urban areas, robotaxis run without a safety driver, and local authorities support the expansion of autonomous projects to reduce transportation costs and develop AI industries.
Pony.ai has strongly accelerated its investments in 2026, following increased demand for autonomous services. The group announced that revenues from the robotaxi segment grew almost five times in the first quarter of the year, and the commercial fleet will continue to be expanded.
WeRide, another important player in the Chinese market, is also preparing international projects in partnership with authorities and mobility operators in the Middle East and Asia. The company estimates it will deliver about 2,000 autonomous vehicles in 2026.
Main players in the robotaxi industry:
| Company | Country | Main Cities | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waymo | USA | San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles | Commercial expansion with new Ojai fleet |
| Tesla | USA | Tests in multiple states | AI-based autonomous network |
| Baidu Apollo Go | China | Wuhan, Beijing | Large-scale urban fleets |
| Pony.ai | China | Guangzhou, Beijing | International expansion |
| WeRide | China | Guangzhou and other regions | Global partnerships |
Tesla, in turn, is trying to aggressively enter the robotaxi market, relying on the integration of the Full Self-Driving system and lower costs compared to competitors using lidar sensors and more complex hardware infrastructure.
Elon Musk's company promotes the idea of a global network of autonomous vehicles operated similarly to ridesharing services. However, Tesla's development is closely monitored by US authorities and road safety experts, amid debates over the reliability of the autonomous systems used by the company.
SURSA FOTO: Dreamstime – Zoox Robotaxi în Las Vegas
Another important competitor in the US market is Zoox, the autonomous vehicle company controlled by Amazon. The group expanded its robotaxi services in San Francisco and Las Vegas in 2026 and is preparing to launch commercial tests in Austin and Miami.
Unlike many competitors that adapt classic cars for autonomous driving, Zoox develops vehicles created exclusively for driverless transport. The company's robotaxis have no steering wheel or pedals and are designed specifically for urban mobility services fully operated by artificial intelligence.
The company announced that it has surpassed the threshold of 350,000 passengers transported and that approximately 500,000 people have already signed up for waiting lists for its autonomous services. Zoox is also preparing to expand rides to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, at a time when competition between Waymo, Tesla, and Amazon is intensifying strongly on the US robotaxi market.
Safety Issues and Legislation Delay Full Expansion of Robotaxis
Robotaxis continue to face major obstacles related to safety, infrastructure, and legal liability, even though investments in the sector are growing rapidly.
Several incidents in recent years have prompted US and Chinese authorities to intensify inspections of autonomous services. In some cases, companies have been forced to temporarily suspend certain operations after incidents caused by extreme weather conditions or difficulties encountered in areas with road works and complex traffic.
Auto industry specialists say autonomous systems still have problems interpreting unforeseen traffic situations, especially in difficult urban conditions. Among the most important challenges are:
- operation in extreme weather conditions;
- reaction to unpredictable pedestrian behavior;
- interpretation of temporary traffic works;
- lack of uniform international regulations;
- legal liability in case of accidents.
In parallel, authorities are trying to adapt legislation for new autonomous services. Several US states have relaxed rules on operating driverless vehicles, while China is accelerating approvals for expanding autonomous fleets in major cities.
The auto industry believes the coming years will be decisive for turning robotaxis into a mass service. Besides the United States and China, commercial autonomous projects are also being prepared in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, where several local administrations are analyzing the integration of autonomous transportation into urban infrastructure.
Analysts estimate that the development of robotaxis could radically change the economic model of urban transport in the next decade. Reducing operational costs, eliminating driver shortages, and integrating artificial intelligence into urban mobility are the main arguments supporting the accelerated expansion of the autonomous industry.
