Waymo and Orlando Mayor Announce Driverless Taxi Service is Coming

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Waymo launched its driverless ride-hailing service in Orlando, Florida, and three other cities on February 24th. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was the first official passenger and shared that the city had been preparing for Waymo’s arrival for several months.

Mayor Dyer highlighted the launch of the commercial service in Orlando as a sign of the city’s innovative spirit. He stated that starting today, residents have a new, safe transportation option, and visitors will experience the high-quality transportation they expect.

Waymo is now operating in multiple cities at the same time for the first time ever. They’ve launched their service not only in Orlando, but also expanded to Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.

Inside Waymo’s Orlando Rollout

Waymo is using electric Jaguar cars in Orlando to provide rides. These vehicles use a combination of cameras, lidar (a 3D mapping system using lasers), and standard radar to navigate. Currently, the service area includes Universal Orlando Resort, portions of Walt Disney World Resort, and Orlando International Airport. According to a report from Fox 35 Orlando, Orlando Mayor Dyer said his first ride was very smooth and he feels confident in the vehicle’s safety.

Waymo, a self-driving car company owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent company), gave 15 million driverless rides in 2025 and now provides around 400,000 rides each week. According to Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, the company expects to be providing over a million rides per week by the end of the year.

I’m so excited about our expansion plans! We’re really focusing on cities like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando as key starting points – we eventually want to be in over 20 cities! What’s amazing is that each place is different, with its own personality and how people get around. We’re committed to offering a travel experience that’s not only safe and dependable but also truly special for everyone who lives there and visits.

Data collected from over 127 million miles of driving shows that self-driving vehicles are significantly safer than human drivers. Specifically, they have ten times fewer serious or fatal crashes and twelve times fewer crashes involving pedestrians. By participating in this testing network, Orlando is becoming a leader in the development of this technology, joining a select group of cities focused on autonomous vehicle testing.

Why Orlando Is a Key Test Market

Even with improvements in technology and wider testing of self-driving cars, many Americans are still hesitant to trust them. A recent AAA survey from 2025 found that 60% of U.S. drivers are afraid to ride in a vehicle that drives itself. The good news is that more people are becoming comfortable with the idea compared to earlier surveys.

Orlando is a promising location to test self-driving vehicles because of its consistent tourist traffic and well-established travel routes. The frequent trips between the airport and resorts offer predictable paths for improving the technology, especially in busy areas, and also give more people a chance to experience it.

It’s still unknown how people in Orlando will react to Waymo compared to the rest of the country. Right now, Waymo rides in Orlando and other new cities are only available to people who have downloaded the Waymo app and received an invitation. Initial reactions online have been mostly positive, with many users excited about this expansion for the company.

A Public Trust Test

Waymo’s launch in Orlando is a significant step forward for self-driving technology, but also a test of public acceptance. While Waymo’s data suggests these vehicles are safer, many people are still unsure about them. In a city known for its constant activity, the next few months will show how well the technology works in the real world and how quickly residents will be willing to ride in driverless cars.

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2026-02-28 21:56