Waymo in Detroit
In Detroit, Waymo is conducting tests. You cannot book a ride there yet.
- Status
- Testing
Waymo is putting its driverless cars through their paces in Detroit. Right now, the only people riding them are Waymo staff. Full driverless operation kicked off in October 2026, and public riders are planned for the near future.
- Status: In testing, rides for employees only
- Fully driverless driving started: October 2026
- Areas: Corktown, Midtown, Hamtramck, Indian Village
- Public rides: Expected in the near future
Can You Ride a Robotaxi in Detroit Today?
No, not yet. The cars now drive with nobody behind the wheel, but during this testing phase only Waymo employees can ride.
A robotaxi picks up paying passengers and drives itself, much like a taxi without a driver. Public rides are planned for the near future, according to ClickOnDetroit, but no launch date has been announced.
Waymo Detroit Service Area
Testing covers 4 areas in and around Detroit, as reported by ClickOnDetroit:
- Corktown
- Midtown
- Hamtramck
- Indian Village
The exact boundaries and rider zone size have not been published. Looking further ahead, Waymo wants to grow across the metro area, so parts of Metro Detroit could join later on.
Waymo Detroit Map
A rider zone map for Detroit is not available to the public, since the service has not opened up yet. The 4 areas being used for testing give you the best idea of where these cars may appear on the road.
When rides become available, the app will display the zone. ClickOnDetroit also reports that Detroit riders will sign up in the app.
How Detroit's Driverless Taxi Plans Compare With Other Cities
Detroit sits at the beginning of this journey. Some driverless taxis in other cities welcome everyone, while others remain in testing only. A safety operator is a trained passenger who rides along and takes control when needed.
| City | Company | How to ride | Launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Waymo | Book in the Uber app | Since June 2025 |
| Atlanta | May Mobility | Lyft app with an operator aboard | Open to everyone |
| Atlanta | Zoox | Testing only | Not open to the public |
| Austin | Waymo | Book in the Uber app | Since March 2025 |
| Austin | Tesla Robotaxi | Use the Tesla Robotaxi app | Since June 22, 2025 |
| Austin | Zoox | Staff, family and friends | Not open to the public |
| Dallas | Waymo | Invitations only at first | Since February 2026 |
| Dallas | Avride | Book in the Uber app | Since December 3, 2025 |
| Dallas | Tesla Robotaxi | Use the Tesla Robotaxi app (no safety monitor aboard) | Since April 18, 2026 |
| Houston | Tesla Robotaxi | Use the Tesla Robotaxi app (no safety monitor aboard) | Since April 18, 2026 |
| Houston | Nuro | With safety operators during testing | Not open to the public |
| Los Angeles | Waymo | Open to the public | Since November 2024 |
| Los Angeles | Zoox | Limited to testing | Not open to the public |
| Miami | Waymo | Open to public riders | Since January 2026 |
| Miami | Tesla Robotaxi | Use the Tesla Robotaxi app (no safety monitor aboard) | Since July 3, 2026 |
| Miami | Zoox | Staff, family and friends | Since April 23, 2026 |
What's Next for Waymo in Detroit?
According to ClickOnDetroit, public rides come first in the near future, and a larger Metro Detroit footprint follows. Until that happens, you might see the cars running around Corktown, Midtown, Hamtramck, and Indian Village, but booking a ride in one is not possible.