Waymo has begun significantly expanding its robotaxi fleet, revealing for the first time that it currently operates more than 1,500 Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles as part of its commercial autonomous driving service. The announcement was paired with news of a major investment aimed at further ramping up production. In partnership with automotive supplier Magna, Waymo will build over 2,000 autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles at a newly established factory in Mesa, Arizona.
Situated strategically within the Phoenix suburb, the new 239,000-square-foot manufacturing facility gives Waymo proximity to its existing autonomous transportation markets, particularly in Phoenix, as well as nearby expansion areas including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. Waymo noted that Mesa’s stable weather conditions were a factor in selecting the location, making it ideal for rapid and reliable vehicle validation processes required before deploying robotaxis in public service.
The company previously collaborated with Magna at a now-closed facility in Detroit. At the new Arizona factory, initial assembly of vehicles, which Jaguar recently delivered, is being completed by Magna. Following this phase, Waymo installs its advanced autonomous driving system. This facility marks a shift toward increased production efficiency, with the ability to integrate Waymo’s self-driving technology and swiftly move vehicles from the factory to customer operations.
Waymo emphasized this streamlined turnaround, highlighting that new autonomous vehicles can leave the Mesa factory and pick up public passengers in as little as 30 minutes. Even robotaxis intended for deployment outside the immediate area can be operational within hours after arriving at their destination.
Furthermore, the Mesa factory has been engineered to accommodate future vehicle platforms beyond the Jaguar I-Pace. The sixth generation of Waymo’s autonomous driving platform will soon expand to include Zeekr RT vehicles, which are scheduled for integration later this year.
Looking forward, Waymo outlined plans to progressively introduce an automated assembly line and other efficiency improvements. At full capacity, the Arizona facility is anticipated to produce tens of thousands of fully autonomous vehicles annually.
