ORLANDO, Fla. – Waymo’s self-driving vehicles launched Tuesday in four more cities, including Orlando.
This expansion brings the fleet of robotaxis to 10 major U.S. markets: Phoenix; the San Francisco Bay area; Los Angeles; Miami; Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Dallas; Houston; San Antonio and Orlando.
Waymo operates its ride-hailing service through its own app in all the U.S. cities except Atlanta and Austin, where its robotaxis can only be summoned through Uber’s ride-hailing service.
Here’s a timeline of major moments of how the company got to this point, according to its website:
2009
Waymo said the Google self-driving car project launched, setting out on a challenge to “drive autonomously over ten uninterrupted 100-mile routes in our Toyota Prius vehicles.”
“Months later, we’d succeeded in driving more autonomous miles than had ever been driven before,” Waymo said.
2015
Waymo’s first fully-autonomous ride hit public roads with a car that had custom sensors, computers, steering and braking - with NO steering wheel or pedals.
“That year, our friend Steven Mahan took the world’s first fully self-driving ride on public roads in Austin, TX. Steve is legally blind,” Waymo’s site reads.
2016
Waymo becomes an independent self-driving tech company
2017-2018
Waymo invites Phoenix, Arizona, residents to trial the self-driving cars, marking the first public trial.
Waymo then launches “the world’s first commercial autonomous ride-hailing service” in Phoenix.
2020
Waymo opens its rider-only service to all members of the public in Phoenix.
2021
Waymo begins testing vehicles in San Francisco and gaining input from select riders in its research program.
2022
Waymo launches service in San Francisco.
The company also becomes the first autonomous ride-hailing service to offer services to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
[WATCH BELOW: Waymo launches Orlando service. Here’s what to know]
2023
Waymo begins testing in Los Angeles, serving rider-only rides in the city with employees.
Waymo also doubles its service area in Arizona, “making it the largest fully autonomous, paid ride-hailing service area in the world at 180 square miles.”
2024
Waymo offers services to the public in San Francisco.
The service also opens to the public in Los Angeles.
Waymo also launched in Atlanta, Austin and Miami.
2026
Waymo launches in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando.
Without identifying where its robotaxis will be available next, Waymo is targeting a list of eight other cities that include Las Vegas, Washington, Detroit and Boston while signaling its first overseas availability is likely to be London.
For more information, click here on frequently asked questions about Waymo.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.