Waymo Begins Testing Driverless Vehicles in Tampa Streets

Waymo started testing cars without drivers on Tampa streets. The company wants to launch passenger service later. These vehicles began mapping roads on Dec. 16, 2025.

Electric white Jaguars with sensors do the mapping work. Next year, Waymo plans to expand how many cars it runs in Tampa.

The tech company has driven more than 100 million miles on public roads with no one behind the wheel, and this helps it launch in new places faster, according to a company statement reported by Fox 13 News.

"The Waymo Driver is adapting faster than ever to new cities: a testament to our more than 100 million miles of fully autonomous driving on public roads," Waymo said in the statement. "This experience enables us to bring the safe, reliable, and magical service that millions of people around the U.S. can enjoy, directly to Tampa's residents and visitors."

Tampa City Council Chairman Alan Clendenin rode in one during a work trip to Los Angeles. He thinks Tampa will see this technology soon.

"I rode a Waymo a couple of times, I was actually in one for about 45 minutes," Clendenin said, according to Fox 13 News. "It was very interesting to have that experience."

Florida's state government controls rideshare rules, not Tampa. Clendenin said Waymo will follow city laws when driving on streets.

Tansel Yucelen teaches mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of South Florida, and he thinks this launch matters for Tampa. USF has studied this technology for years.

"It's a significant milestone for Tampa," he said. "It places the region in a small group of cities that are effectively serving as test beds for large scale autonomous mobility."

Trust is still a big question. "When you take the driver out of the front seat, you are asking people to transfer trust from a human they can see to a technical system which they cannot see," he said.

Waymo also runs in Miami and Orlando. No word yet on when Tampa passengers can book rides.

The U.S. Safety Agency opened an investigation after one car drove past stopped school buses in Texas, and the agency is checking whether the system follows traffic safety laws. Waymo told FOX Business they fixed the problem.