Alphabet’s (GOOGL) Waymo Accelerates Robotaxi Expansion into Seattle and Denver Markets

Waymo's autonomous fleet hits the streets of two major metros—proving Silicon Valley's moonshot just became Main Street's reality.

Scaling the Unscalable

Seattle's rain-soaked roads and Denver's high-altitude routes now serve as the latest real-world labs for Waymo's driverless tech. No safety drivers—just algorithms navigating unpredictable urban terrain.

Investor Pulse Check

Wall Street watches closely as Alphabet bets big on scaling robotaxis beyond sun-drenched Phoenix and San Francisco. Because nothing says 'growth stock' like replacing human drivers during an economic downturn.

The rollout signals autonomous vehicles aren't just coming—they're already here, quietly collecting fares while Tesla's FSD still asks drivers to keep their hands on the wheel.

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The expansion follows years of testing and data collection in the area, allowing the company to understand how to handle tricky road conditions, such as frequent rain and heavy construction.

At first, Waymo will run a small group of electric cars, which will include Jaguar I-Pace SUVs and Zeekr RT vans, with human drivers onboard. This careful rollout helps Waymo fine-tune its self-driving tech before launching fully driverless rides for the public.

Denver is expected to see commercial service launch as early as next year, while Seattle’s timeline depends on regulatory approvals and the testing process. 

Waymo’s Journey Ahead

Waymo already operates in five major U.S. cities, Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta, where it completes thousands of paid trips per week.

Testing is also ramping up in New York City, where Waymo recently received its first permit to operate autonomous vehicles with safety drivers onboard. The company is also preparing to launch commercial services in Miami, Washington D.C., and Dallas in 2026.

Moving to international expansion, Waymo deployed a fleet of electric Jaguar I-PACEs to Tokyo, Japan, in early 2025. The company has partnered with local taxi company Nihon Kotsu and taxi-hailing app GO. 

Currently, trained drivers are driving Waymo cars around areas like Minato and Shibuya to map the streets, study local traffic, and improve the self-driving system using real-world experience.

After the mapping and data collection phase is complete, Waymo plans to progress to autonomous driving tests with a safety driver behind the wheel.

What Is the Target Price for Google Stock?

On TipRanks, GOOGL stock has received a Strong Buy consensus rating, with 27 Buys and nine Holds assigned in the last three months. The average Google stock price target is $217.81, suggesting a potential upside of 3.06% from the current level.