Timeline

Milestones derived from the stage history of every service and from regulators' key dates. Firsts mark the first public driverless rides in a city.

2026

  1. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Denver: Waymo - Public rides opened gradually to sign-ups source
  2. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in San Diego: Waymo - Public rides opened gradually to sign-ups source
  3. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Tampa: Tesla Robotaxi - Unsupervised Model Y rides launched, no safety monitor source
  4. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Nashville: Waymo - Opened to public riders invited on a rolling basis via Waymo app source
  5. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Dubai: WeRide - Fully driverless fare-charging service launches in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah via the Uber Autonomous option. source
  6. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Dallas: Waymo - Opened to first public riders by invitation source
  7. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Houston: Waymo - Opened to first public riders by invitation source
  8. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Orlando: Waymo - Opened to first public riders by invitation source
  9. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in San Antonio: Waymo - Opened to first public riders by invitation source
  10. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Miami: Waymo - Public launch to select riders invited on a rolling basis source

2025

  1. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Abu Dhabi: WeRide - Public commercial fully driverless operations start on Yas Island via Uber after federal permit (Oct 2025) and ITC licence to WeRide and Tawasul. source
  2. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Guangzhou: Pony.ai - Gen-7 fully driverless commercial operations kicked off source
  3. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Las Vegas: Zoox - Free public rides on fixed Strip routes source
  4. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Shanghai: Pony.ai - Permit (2025-07-26) and launch of fully driverless commercial operations in Pudong in late July source
  5. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Atlanta: Waymo - Commercial service launched on Uber source
  6. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Austin: Waymo - Commercial service launched on Uber source
  7. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Peachtree Corners: May Mobility - Safety operator removed; weekdays 9:30-15:00 source

2024

  1. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Los Angeles: Waymo - Full commercial service launched source

2023

  1. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Ordos: WeRide - Robotaxi operations started; free rides, remote support centre source
  2. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Beijing: Apollo Go (Baidu) - Permit for fully driverless rides in Yizhuang (10 vehicles) source

2022

  1. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Chongqing: Apollo Go (Baidu) - Permit for commercial fully driverless ride-hailing in Yongchuan, five vehicles, 9:30am-4:30pm source
  2. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Wuhan: Apollo Go (Baidu) - Permit for commercial fully driverless ride-hailing, 13 sq km, five vehicles, 9am-5pm source
  3. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in San Francisco: Cruise - Driverless service opened to the public source

2021

  1. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Shenzhen: AutoX - Public trial via sign-up page; Shenzhen officials disputed approval at the time source

2020

  1. First in cityFirst public driverless rides in Phoenix: Waymo - Fully driverless commercial service opened source