Waymo’s co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana is doubling down on the company’s mission to expand its robotaxi operations while maintaining safety as a non-negotiable priority. During her TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 interview, Mawakana addressed one of the industry’s biggest questions: how can autonomous vehicles scale safely without compromising public trust? Her answer—by combining transparency, technology, and partnerships—positions Waymo as a leader in the next phase of urban mobility.
Image Credits:Sean O'Kane
How Waymo’s Co-CEO Defines Safe Robotaxi Scaling
Mawakana emphasized that scaling isn’t just about deploying more vehicles—it’s about proving that autonomous systems outperform human drivers. She noted that Waymo’s safety benchmarks already exceed those of average motorists, supported by millions of autonomous miles driven. The company’s strategy blends advanced AI modeling with real-world feedback loops to continuously refine performance across different cities and conditions.
Why Scaling Robotaxis Safely Is Waymo’s Biggest Challenge
The co-CEO acknowledged that balancing growth and safety is complex, especially with competitors racing to launch in new markets. “It’s imperative that we scale,” she said, explaining that widespread adoption is the only path to safer roads at scale. However, she criticized rivals for lacking transparency in safety data—a factor she believes will define long-term trust in autonomous transport.
Where Waymo Plans to Scale Robotaxis Next
After successful launches in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco, Waymo plans to expand to Washington D.C., Miami, Denver, Dallas, Seattle, and Nashville—with London joining in 2026. Mawakana projected that by the end of 2026, Waymo could be offering 1 million autonomous trips per week, powered by partnerships with Uber, Lyft, and Avis to integrate robotaxis into everyday mobility.
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