- September 1, 2026 Loading In Tampa, the driver’s seat is officially empty. Waymo began offering fully autonomous rides in Tampa on Tuesday, opening its robotaxi service to members of the public after months of testing vehicles on the city’s streets. But not everyone who downloads the company’s app will be able to summon a car immediately. Waymo says it is gradually granting access to people who joined its waitlist, with plans to make the service broadly available over time, according to a release. Tens of thousands of people in Tampa have already expressed interest, the company says. Waymo’s initial Tampa service area covers about 50 square miles, stretching from Westshore to Highland Pines in East Tampa and including neighborhoods such as Hyde Park, Northwest Park and Temple Crest. The company has not said when it will expand beyond those boundaries. Riders can request and pay for trips through the Waymo app much as they would with a conventional ride-hailing service. The difference becomes apparent when the car arrives: There is no human driver behind the wheel. “Tampa’s innovative spirit continues to draw companies that are on the forefront of technology to our city,” Mayor Jane Castor says in a statement released by Waymo. “Waymo’s launch in Tampa provides another effective — and exciting — way to get around, helping us in our goal to strengthen our transportation network and provide options for every preference or need.” The Tampa rollout is part of a larger, single-day expansion. The Alphabet-owned company also began accepting public riders Tuesday in Denver and San Diego, bringing the number of cities where it provides fully autonomous trips to 14. Waymo began testing vehicles in Tampa in December, the company says, initially using human specialists to map streets and gather information about traffic patterns, construction, pedestrians