GoKawiilWayve strikes Mercedes-Benz deal as Waymo concentrates robotaxis in Texas and California
Wayve has signed a commercial partnership with Mercedes-Benz to integrate its automated-driving software into at least one vehicle model within two years, adding to earlier deals with Nissan and Stellantis. Separately, vehicle registration data shows about 80% of Waymo's roughly 4,000 robotaxis are concentrated in California and Texas, with its Texas fleet growing more than 49% in three weeks; Waymo is also reportedly expanding to teenage riders.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The Mercedes deal suggests Wayve is pursuing scale by embedding driver-assist technology into automakers' existing vehicles rather than building its own robotaxi fleet, which could give it broader reach while it develops fully driverless capability elsewhere, such as its Tokyo robotaxi plans with Nissan and Uber. Waymo's registration data indicates its much-touted national expansion is, for now, actually a deep concentration in two states, which may reflect a strategy of proving density before broader geographic rollout.
- Wayve's Mercedes-Benz partnership adds a Level 2 driver-assist deployment to its existing Nissan and Stellantis agreements.
- Roughly 80% of Waymo's approximately 4,000 robotaxis are registered in California and Texas, with Texas growing over 49% in three weeks.
- Waymo is reportedly extending its robotaxi service to teenage riders as part of its scaling efforts.
Source: techcrunch.com — Kirsten Korosec, 2026-09-27
Published there as: “TechCrunch Mobility: AV companies pick their lanes”
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