Robotaxi Atlas

Lit clusters: US cities with public driverless rides. Rings: testing or announced.

Can I ride a robotaxi in New Orleans?

Waymo is testing here (since Nov 20, 2025), with no public rides.

Status
Testing
Operators
Waymo
Last checked

Operators in New Orleans

  • Waymo
    Testing

    Since Nov 20, 2025: Waymo announced manual driving in New Orleans.

What's happening in New Orleans

About 12 Waymo vehicles are testing in New Orleans, each with a human driver, Axios New Orleans reported on Jun 15, 2026. Manual driving began after Waymo's Nov 20, 2025 announcement, and on Jul 9, 2026 FOX 8 WVUE reported that testing had spread to neighboring Jefferson Parish, with a person still in the driver's seat.

Paid rides need the city's rules to change first. New Orleans law would have to be updated before Waymo can offer for-hire service, and that service is not expected before 2027. Waymo has not given a firmer date, and the council has not acted.

Anyone who wants to try a robotaxi in the meantime should head west. Houston is the closest city with public rides. Waymo opened there in its app on Aug 20, 2026, and Tesla Robotaxi runs a zone in northwest Houston. Atlanta and Dallas are a little farther.

Timeline

  1. Waymo announced manual driving in Minneapolis, New Orleans and Tampa. Reported. Source

New Orleans robotaxi questions

Can I take a Waymo in New Orleans?

Waymo's New Orleans cars are in testing with a human driver and do not carry public riders.

When could Waymo start rides in New Orleans?

Waymo for-hire service in New Orleans needs city law changes and is not expected before 2027.

How many Waymo cars are testing in New Orleans?

About 12, each with a human driver, according to Axios New Orleans in June 2026.

Is Waymo testing outside New Orleans?

FOX 8 WVUE reported in July 2026 that Waymo had begun testing in Jefferson Parish, with someone still in the driver's seat.

Sources

  1. Waymo: Waymo Updates
  2. TechCrunch: Waymo enters 3 more cities, Nov 20, 2025
  3. Axios New Orleans: Waymo's New Orleans ambitions face regulatory hurdles, Jun 15, 2026
  4. FOX 8 WVUE: Waymo begins testing autonomous vehicles in Jefferson Parish, Jul 9, 2026

"Reported" means one news report that the operator or a regulator hasn't confirmed yet.

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