Waymo Ends Waitlist: Robotaxi Service Now Open to All in San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa

Waymo has removed the invitation-only barrier from three more of its markets, letting any resident or visitor in San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa book a fully driverless trip through the company’s app. The Alphabet-owned operator had spent months running these cities in a limited-access phase, and the switch to general availability marks the point where a launch becomes an ordinary transportation option rather than a novelty.

Perhaps the most consequential piece of the expansion is airport access. Travelers flying in or out of San Antonio International Airport can now summon a Waymo vehicle, a step that airport officials framed as part of a broader push to modernize ground transportation. Jesus Saenz, who directs airports for the City of San Antonio Aviation, described the arrival of autonomous service at the terminal as a milestone for the city and for travelers, noting that both arriving visitors and locals catching early flights gain another way to reach their destinations.

Waymo says it has already carried hundreds of thousands of riders across the three markets since service began earlier in the year, with trips spanning beach outings, hockey games, the San Antonio Riverwalk and routine errands like grocery runs. The company argues that while each city has its own character, the underlying demand is similar: people want a dependable alternative to driving themselves.

Supporters beyond city hall have also weighed in. In San Diego, Bob Kelly, founder and CEO of the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, argued that self-driving cars matter most for riders who cannot easily get behind the wheel, calling mobility a lifeline for older adults and positioning the technology as a question of inclusion rather than novelty.

The rollout raises familiar questions about what comes next. Waymo has been steadily converting test and waitlist markets into fully open ones, and each new city adds pressure on the company to scale its fleet, depots and remote support operations without sacrificing safety. For now, the immediate change is simple: in three more American cities, hailing a car with no one in the driver’s seat requires nothing more than downloading an app.