Recent incidents involving Waymo robotaxis, including a collision with a child in Santa Monica, California, are intensifying scrutiny of the autonomous vehicle company as it expands its operations, now serving ten metropolitan areas across six states. The incidents are forcing Waymo to proactively address public concerns about safety and build trust as it seeks wider acceptance of its technology.
Waymo, alongside Zoox, is facing increased pressure as the scale of its robotaxi service grows. The company recently launched fully autonomous ride-hailing in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, Florida, adding to existing services in Los Angeles and five other U.S. Cities. The expansion to these four new cities marks the first time Waymo has simultaneously opened to the public in multiple locations. Select riders who have downloaded the Waymo app are being invited to grab rides, with plans to open the service to everyone later this year.
Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo’s co-chief executive, acknowledged the need to earn public trust. “Waymo is serving more riders than ever, as we are on track to serve over one million rides per week by the end of this year,” Mawakana stated in a February 24th announcement. “Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando are critical to our plans, as we lay groundwork for service in 20+ cities.”
The push for expansion comes after Mawakana addressed the question of societal acceptance of accidents involving autonomous vehicles at TechCrunch Disrupt in October 2025. She stated that society “will accept a death caused by a robotaxi,” adding, “We know it’s not perfection.” This comment, reported by Reddit’s r/bayarea forum, underscores the challenging reality Waymo faces in navigating public perception and potential incidents.
Mawakana previously discussed the complexities of scaling autonomous vehicle deployment at the 2025 TechCrunch Disrupt conference, focusing on rider safety, public trust, regulation, and competition. She emphasized the need to move beyond “vague timelines or flashy demos” and address the practical challenges of bringing autonomous technology to life at scale.
The Federal Trade Commission is also currently investigating misleading advertising practices by vehicle dealerships, a separate but contemporaneous issue highlighting consumer protection concerns within the automotive industry.
Waymo continues to operate under a market entry strategy prioritizing safety and community engagement. The company’s technology is designed to handle diverse environmental conditions, from intense sunlight to heavy rain and freezing temperatures. However, the company has not publicly commented on the specific investigations stemming from the recent incidents in California.
