Waymo announced that it has received its final delivery of Jaguar I-Pace SUVs, which will be equipped with sensors and autonomous driving technology at its Arizona facility. These vehicles will join Waymo’s robotaxi fleet. In a recent blog post, the Alphabet subsidiary revealed it currently operates 1,500 Jaguars across its primary markets: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin. The company plans to add 2,000 more vehicles by 2026, aiming for a total fleet size of 3,500. Waymo recently achieved an average of 250,000 paid passenger trips weekly.
Waymo typically avoids discussing its fleet size, making this announcement a rare insight into its operations. The company is eyeing Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, DC for expansion in 2026. Since retiring its Chrysler Pacifica minivans in 2023, the Jaguar I-Pace has been Waymo’s primary vehicle. Although the company initially aimed for 20,000 I-Paces, it appears to have fallen short of this goal. Waymo is also testing the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Zeekr RT minivan for future inclusion in its fleet.
The robotaxis are assembled with assistance from Magna International at Waymo’s Arizona factory. Starting in 2026, Waymo will work on its sixth-generation “Waymo Driver,” designed for the Zeekr RT. This vehicle, a product of Geely, is being adapted in Sweden and imported to Arizona for autonomous driving modifications.
To accommodate multiple vehicle platforms, Waymo plans to enhance its Mesa factory with automated assembly lines. At full capacity, the factory could produce tens of thousands of robotaxis annually. Each vehicle undergoes passenger validation before leaving the factory, ensuring immediate readiness for service.
This announcement aligns with Tesla’s plans to launch its robotaxi service and Waymo’s partnership with Toyota to explore selling autonomous vehicles for personal ownership.
— new from The Verge