Overview
- Waymo added 55 square miles to its Phoenix metro coverage, extending service into Gilbert, additional Chandler neighborhoods, and San Tan Ranch and raising local coverage to more than 350 square miles.
- The company says Phoenix‑Mesa Gateway Airport is expected to be added as a stop soon, which Waymo says would give Phoenix more Waymo airport links than any other city.
- Because the new zone reaches closer to Waymo’s Mesa operations facility, vehicles can drive themselves straight from the building into active service, which lowers non-revenue travel and shortens time to first passenger.
- Waymo described the expansion as a 'meaningful homecoming,' linking the rollout to the East Valley where the company ran its first riders, trips, and community partnerships beginning in 2020 and stressing infrastructure and safety work.
- Riders in the East Valley should see broader coverage, faster pickups, and improved airport connections, and the next developments to watch are the operational start at Phoenix‑Mesa Gateway and how quicker vehicle deployment affects wait times and trip volume.