Waymo has announced that it will start providing robotaxi rides in Washington D.C. through the Waymo One app, with the service scheduled to launch in 2026.

However, before the commercial launch can take place, the company will need to step up its lobbying efforts in the capital, as current regulations for autonomous vehicle permits require a human driver to be present behind the wheel.

This development from Waymo comes as the company, which is owned by Alphabet, continues to aggressively expand its robotaxi services in an effort to establish a strong lead over potential competitors, including Amazon’s Zoox and Elon Musk’s Tesla. Notably, Musk has stated that Tesla plans to introduce a robotaxi service in Austin this summer and in California at some point this year.

Waymo already operates commercial services in several locations, including Phoenix, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and more recently Austin, where it has partnered with ride-hail firm Uber. Additionally, Waymo intends to launch a robotaxi service via Uber in Atlanta this year and has begun transporting employees in fully autonomous vehicles in the city. The company has also announced plans to launch services in Miami in 2026, alongside Washington D.C.

In an effort to generate more excitement and awareness, Waymo has announced plans to start mapping in 10 cities this year, including Las Vegas, San Diego, and, as of Monday, Nashville.

The announcement of Waymo’s D.C. launch comes two months after the company introduced a small test fleet of its Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis in the city, where they have been driving manually and testing autonomously with a safety driver behind the wheel.

Waymo’s business model relies on the removal of human drivers from its vehicles. To achieve this, the company has stated that it will work with policymakers to update the district’s permitting rules, allowing fully autonomous vehicles to operate on public roads.