Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle division, has revealed rare details about its fleet as it plans a significant expansion. The company announced it will add 2,000 robotaxis to its current fleet by 2026, growing from 1,500 to 3,500 vehicles.
Waymo announced that it is building a new autonomous vehicle assembly plant in partnership with Magna in Mesa, Arizona. In the plant, they will retrofit vehicles with their fully autonomous technology. The company recently received its final shipment of cars from Jaguar, and it will retrofit over 2,000 more fully autonomous I-PACE vehicles for its fleet.
Waymo’s fleet consists of 1,500 Jaguar I-PACEs operating in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin. The I-PACE has been the company’s primary operating vehicle since retiring the Chrysler Pacifica minivans in 2023.
Waymo is testing two new models to add to its growing fleet: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Zeekr RT, an all-electric minivan. The Zeekr RT, developed by Geely and adapted in Sweden, will be the first platform for Waymo’s sixth-generation autonomous driving system in 2026.
The company’s Mesa factory will also be upgraded to handle greater volume and production flexibility as Waymo adapts its technology to multiple platforms. According to Waymo, each robotaxi is validated and commissioned on-site, ready to begin service within 30 minutes of leaving the facility.
The fleet expansion coincides with increased activity across the autonomous vehicle industry. Tesla has announced plans to launch its own robotaxi service in Texas and California, while General Motors recently pivoted away from commercial robotaxis to focus on consumer-level autonomy.
Waymo, however, appears to be moving in both directions. In addition to expanding its Waymo One ride-hailing service, the company has entered a preliminary partnership with Toyota to explore the integration of autonomous driving into personally owned vehicles. The collaboration signals a potential shift beyond fleet-based services and aligns with broader industry trends pushing toward direct-to-consumer applications.
While the partnership remains in early stages, Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said Toyota vehicles could eventually be incorporated into the company’s robotaxi fleet. Toyota’s scale and manufacturing capabilities could position Waymo to expand commercial and consumer-facing deployment options in the coming years.
