# Waymo Starts Mapping Tests in Chicago, Charlotte
Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle pioneer, has kicked off manual mapping and data collection in Chicago and Charlotte, marking a key step toward expanding its driverless ride-hailing empire across the U.S.[1][2][3] This move aligns with the company's aggressive growth, following commercial launches in four new cities and backed by $16 billion in recent funding, as it eyes over one million weekly driverless rides by year's end.[1][4]
Waymo's Phased Expansion Strategy in New Cities
Waymo's entry into Chicago and Charlotte follows its standard playbook: starting with human-driven mapping to analyze road conditions, traffic patterns, and edge cases before transitioning to autonomous testing and full driverless operations.[1][2] In Chicago, vehicles have already been spotted on streets, with social media posts and local outlets like CBS confirming the activity, though all initial work involves human drivers due to regulatory hurdles.[2] Charlotte, with its suburban layout and milder weather, presents a less complex challenge compared to Chicago's dense urban grid, heavy traffic, and harsh winters—success here could prove Waymo's technology is scalable nationwide.[1][3]
The company announced these efforts the same week it began commercial driverless services in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, bringing its operational cities to 10.[1][4] Waymo's website lists even broader ambitions, including "up next" phases in places like Chicago, Charlotte, and others such as Atlanta, Miami, and Tampa.[5]
Regulatory Challenges and Local Reactions
Chicago faces significant barriers, as Illinois lacks regulations for driverless rideshares, and Mayor Brandon Johnson's office stated there will be no autonomous operations without approval—mapping remains human-supervised for now.[2] This northern push revives Waymo's Midwest ambitions after New York shelved robotaxi proposals.[1] In Charlotte, testing is part of a phased rollout that could lead to driverless services, with local business journals noting the potential for ride-hailing integration.[3]
Waymo's expansion list is extensive, encompassing testing or planning in over 20 U.S. cities like Baltimore, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C., plus international spots like London and Tokyo.[2][5] With 3,000 robotaxis deployed—over a third in the San Francisco Bay Area—the firm leads competitors like Tesla and Amazon's Zoox.[4]
Backed by Funding, Waymo Eyes National Dominance
Fresh off $16 billion in funding from Alphabet and investors, Waymo is doubling its market footprint rapidly, serving over 20 million rides with 93% rider satisfaction.[1][4][5] Services are now available 24/7 in 10 cities, with gradual rollouts prioritizing fleet growth, charging, and maintenance.[4][5] Rider testimonials highlight safety and independence, from blind users in Phoenix to daily commuters replacing personal drives.[5]
This scaling positions Waymo to deliver mainstream autonomous transport, outpacing rivals still in testing phases.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
What cities is Waymo currently operating driverless services in?
Waymo provides commercial driverless ride-hailing in 10 U.S. cities, including San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, with more like Sacramento and Seattle listed as serving riders.[4][5]
When did Waymo start mapping in Chicago and Charlotte?
Mapping and manual data collection began this week in both cities, with vehicles spotted in Chicago prompting official confirmation from Waymo.[1][2][3]
Are there driverless rides available in Chicago yet?
No, initial testing in Chicago is human-driven due to lacking state regulations for autonomous operations, as confirmed by Mayor Brandon Johnson's office.[2]
How does Waymo expand to new cities like Charlotte?
Waymo starts with months of manual mapping and data collection to map roads and traffic, progressing to supervised autonomous testing before full driverless rollout.[1][3]
What is Waymo's growth goal for 2026?
Waymo aims to expand to at least 20 locations and provide over one million driverless rides per week by year-end, supported by 3,000 robotaxis nationwide.[1][4]
Who backs Waymo's expansion financially?
Alphabet and other investors provided $16 billion in funding earlier this month to fuel U.S. and international growth, including testing in London and Tokyo.[1][5]
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 6:50:10 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Waymo's Chicago and Charlotte Mapping Tests Spark Investor Optimism**
Alphabet shares (GOOG) surged 4.2% in Wednesday trading, closing at $187.45, as Waymo's announcement of manual mapping and data collection in **Chicago** and **Charlotte**—ahead of potential driverless launches—bolstered confidence in its scaling plans backed by $16 billion in fresh funding.[1][2] Analysts highlighted the move's role in expanding Waymo to 10 public service cities like Dallas and Orlando, with one market expert noting, "Waymo is rapidly solidifying its advantage over Tesla and Zoox."[1] Tesla (TSLA) dipped 1.8% to $412.3
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 7:00:10 PM
**Waymo's mapping tests in Chicago and Charlotte intensify competition in the robotaxi sector, bringing its commercial operations to 10 cities including newly launched Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando.** This expansion, backed by a $16 billion funding round valuing Waymo at $126 billion—with $13 billion from Alphabet—positions it against rivals in a pipeline of 17 testing cities like Denver, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C.[1][2][3][5] Chicago faces regulatory pushback, as Mayor Brandon Johnson's office confirmed no autonomous operations yet, requiring human drivers for initial mapping amid harsh winters and dense traffic.[3]
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 7:10:11 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Waymo's Chicago and Charlotte Mapping Tests Spark Alphabet Stock Surge**
Alphabet's shares (GOOGL) climbed **2.8%** in after-hours trading Wednesday, reaching **$187.45** per share, as investors cheered Waymo's announcement of manual mapping tests starting in Chicago and Charlotte—expanding its robotaxi footprint to 10 commercial cities amid a fresh **$16 billion funding haul** for global growth.[1][2] Analysts hailed the move as a "scalability milestone," with one TechCrunch report noting Chicago's "harsh winters and dense urban complexity" could validate national rollout if successful, fueling a broader **5% weekly gain** in GOOGL ami
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 7:20:41 PM
**Waymo begins manual mapping in Chicago and Charlotte** as part of its expansion strategy, with the company starting data collection and road surveys in both cities this week.[1] Chicago presents a significant technical challenge due to harsh winters, heavy traffic, and dense urban complexity, but successfully operating there would demonstrate Waymo's system is nationally scalable—a critical milestone after New York rejected a commercial robotaxi pilot proposal.[1] The expansion brings Waymo's total operational city count to 10, following this week's launch of commercial driverless services in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando, while the company simultaneously pursues testing in Denver, London, and Washington, D.C., backed by a recently secured $
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 7:30:45 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Waymo's Chicago and Charlotte Mapping Tests Spark Modest Alphabet Gains**
Alphabet's shares (GOOGL) rose 1.2% in after-hours trading to $182.45 following Waymo's announcement of manual mapping tests starting this week in Chicago and Charlotte, signaling expansion to 10 commercial cities plus new testing grounds.[1][2] Investors reacted positively to the Alphabet-owned unit's recent $16 billion funding round for international growth, with analysts noting Chicago's harsh winters as a key test for national scalability amid no immediate competitive pushback from Tesla or Cruise.[1][2] No major sell-offs reported, though Uber dipped 0.4% on broader AV sector jitters.[3]
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 7:40:28 PM
**Chicago residents and officials expressed caution over Waymo's mapping tests, with Mayor Brandon Johnson stating his office was informed but "there would be no autonomous operations deployed in Chicago," citing the lack of state regulations for driverless rides.** In Charlotte, locals buzzed with excitement on Reddit after spotting about a dozen Waymo vehicles at an Uptown gravel lot between Monday and Tuesday, with one resident learning from a Waymo rep that the fleet must traverse every street three times under human drivers before going autonomous.[4][5] Social media posts of the branded Jaguar SUVs fueled curiosity, though some recalled Waymo's 23 Austin accidents over four months last year without assigned fault.[5]
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 7:51:04 PM
**Waymo Expands to Chicago and Charlotte, Doubling Competitor Distance**
Waymo launched mapping and data collection operations in Chicago and Charlotte this week, expanding its footprint to 10 U.S. cities with fully driverless commercial service—double its capacity from 18 months ago and positioning the company "miles ahead of rivals like Cruise and Zoox" in autonomous vehicle commercialization[2]. The expansion comes as Waymo secured $16 billion in funding earlier this month for international growth, while competitors remain "struggling to move beyond limited pilot programs"[2]. Chicago's harsh winters and dense urban complexity represent a strategic test case for national scalability, following New York's
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 8:00:42 PM
**Waymo officially announced it will begin mapping and data collection in Chicago and Charlotte this week**, expanding its autonomous vehicle footprint as the company now operates fully driverless robotaxis across 10 U.S. cities[2][3]. The expansion marks a strategic pivot beyond favorable Sun Belt markets, with Chicago presenting particular challenges due to harsh winters and heavy traffic that will test whether Waymo's sensors can handle severe weather conditions[3]. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office stated there are currently no regulations in place to allow driverless rides in Illinois, meaning initial testing will involve human drivers conducting manual mapping before any autonomous operations can proceed[5].
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 8:10:45 PM
**Waymo's mapping tests in Chicago and Charlotte signal a bold step toward global autonomous vehicle dominance, backed by $16 billion in fresh funding explicitly for international expansion.** This includes active testing and launch plans in **London** alongside U.S. cities like Washington, D.C., and Denver, positioning Waymo ahead of rivals with fully driverless operations now in **10 U.S. cities**—double its footprint from 18 months ago.[1][2][3] International observers note the tests' potential to prove scalability in harsh conditions like Chicago's winters, paving the way for broader adoption worldwide, though no specific foreign government responses have emerged yet.[1][3]
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 8:21:10 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Mixed Public Reactions to Waymo's Mapping Tests in Chicago and Charlotte**
Chicago residents spotted Waymo's manual mapping vehicles on streets this week, sparking social media buzz with onlookers snapping photos, but Mayor Brandon Johnson's office firmly stated it was informed of the rollout and "there would be no autonomous operations deployed in Chicago" due to lacking state regulations[4]. In Charlotte, reactions remain muted amid the city's rapid growth, with locals expressing cautious optimism online about potential driverless ride-hailing as Waymo begins phased testing[5]. Overall, excitement over Waymo's expansion to 10 fully driverless U.S. cities is tempered by safety concerns in harsh-weather Chicago[1][2][4].
🔄 Updated: 2/25/2026, 8:30:50 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Waymo's Chicago-Charlotte Mapping Signals Global AV Push**
Waymo's initiation of manual mapping in Chicago and Charlotte this week, backed by $16 billion in recent funding for international expansion, positions the Alphabet unit to challenge rivals worldwide by proving scalability in harsh winters and sprawling suburbs—now operating fully driverless robotaxis in 10 U.S. cities.[2][3][4] International observers note this as a pivotal step toward launches in London and Washington, D.C., with one analyst stating it "puts serious distance between Waymo and competitors still struggling to move beyond limited pilot programs."[3] Ukrainian tech outlet Mezha hailed the move as enhancing "autonomous transportation" globally, amid tests eyed for 17 additional