Waymo’s recent focus remains on deepening coverage in its 15 existing U.S. metros rather than opening new ones, with the October 27 announcement adding nearly 250 square miles across Los Angeles, Nashville, Orlando, San Diego, and the Bay Area in existing service zones. This pattern of rapid geofence growth in recently launched markets like Denver, Tampa, San Diego, and Las Vegas reflects prioritized scaling after regulatory approvals and mapping. Washington, D.C. stands as the clearest near-term candidate for a 2026 launch, given ongoing testing and a pending city council bill, while Detroit and other test sites face longer timelines. Fleet expansion plans and competition from Tesla’s robotaxi efforts add pressure, but any new city debut by year-end would require swift regulatory clearance amid Waymo’s emphasis on operational density in current locations.