News Summary

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Alphabet, has announced its plans to launch a robotaxi service in Dallas next year. In a strategic partnership with Avis Budget Group, Waymo will utilize Avis to manage the fleet operations of its all-electric autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. Avis will be responsible for depot operations, including charging and maintenance. This partnership marks Avis’s first collaboration with a company like Waymo, and it is expected to expand to other cities over time. Waymo has previously partnered with companies like Uber and Moove for similar operations in different cities. The launch in Dallas follows Waymo’s recent mapping and testing operations in the city. As Waymo continues to test its autonomous vehicles, the company plans to expand its fleet in collaboration with Avis, scaling to hundreds of vehicles eventually.