Waymo Goes To Dallas With Avis, As It Launches The Avis First Car Rental Plan

It has been a bit of a mixed bag of emotions for Elon Musk and his plethora of companies of late, particularly Tesla and Starlink.

From global outages to a $16.5 billion chip deal with Samsung Electronics, from the opening of the Tesla Diner to shaky plans of taking self-driving Tesla robotaxis to California, these two companies have gathered the attention of people within and outside the tech industry.

Amid this, Tesla’s competitors have also seen forward movements.

Waymo, which is owned by Google’s parent Alphabet, saw the closure of the probe into 17 self-driving vehicle collisions, safety law violations, and other unexpected behavior—one that ran for over 14 months.

It was closed without any further action being taken against the company, and one of the major reasons for this was that it spanned two recalls issued by Waymo, including one that affected over 1,200 vehicles—1212 to be exact.

All this comes as Waymo has its sights set on expanding to other cities, bringing its self-driving robotaxi service to Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York, Washington, and more—as the company already conveyed plans to test its vehicles in ten new cities in the United States, beginning with Las Vegas and San Diego.

Now, Waymo announced the next city it plans to expand its robotaxi services in—Dallas, Texas.

However, the company will bring its 24/7 autonomous ride-hailing service to serve even more riders in the Lone Star State in 2026.


The move will be backed by a new strategic, multi-year partnership with Avis Budget Group, a leading global mobility solutions provider that possesses more than 10,000 rental locations in around 180 countries around the world.

Avis will manage the Waymo fleet in the city and offer end-to-end fleet management services, such as infrastructure, vehicle readiness, maintenance, and general depot operations. The firm brings “decades of fleet management expertise, a track record of fast, efficient execution, and a commitment to adopting cutting-edge technology,” helping Waymo to scale its Waymo Driver faster and more cost-efficiently.

“We are excited that fully autonomous ride-hailing services are scheduled to begin in Dallas next year,” said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “The Waymo and Avis partnership will offer an innovative, technology-based transportation option for our residents and visitors.  We look forward to the launch of this new service.”

“Working together with our fleet partner Avis, Waymo will offer more riders a stress-free way to get around,” said Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO, Waymo.

“Our partnership with Waymo marks a pivotal milestone in our evolution, from a rental car company to a leading provider of fleet management, infrastructure and operations to the broader mobility ecosystem,” said Brian Choi, CEO of Avis Budget Group. “Together, we’re committed to making scaled autonomous mobility a reality for the people of Dallas, with plans to expand to additional cities in the near future.”

At the same time, Avis introduced a unique and first-of-its-kind car rental experience.

Avis First (styled as AV1S FIRST) is a comprehensive car rental plan that comes with curbside pickup, premium vehicles and a personal concierge.


Avis describes it as a premium, concierge-level car rental experience designed for people who expect more: more comfort, more control, and more time back in their day.

The service allows users to skip the waiting and wandering through parking garages to collect a car, which is instead delivered by a personal concierge upon exiting the airport. This premium car will be pre-cooled by the concierge, who can also help users connect their CarPlay.

Once the trip is completed, users drop off the vehicle at the airport’s departure point and can head straight to their terminal. Furthermore, the company will fill up the tank at market price, cutting out the need for a user to visit a gas station.

“Avis First introduces a new level of ease and efficiency, delivering curbside service and premium vehicles exactly when and where travelers need them,” said Avis’ EVP and Chief Commercial Officer, Americas, Andres Barry. “It’s designed for those who expect more, with concierge-level service, elevated comfort and complete control over the journey. It’s not just about getting from A to B faster, it’s about offering something distinct for those who value the luxury of time and service just as much as the drive itself.”

Avis First is now running at major airports such as Denver (Colorado), Honolulu (Hawaii), Palm Beach (Florida), and Fort Lauderdale (Florida), as well as local markets such as Manhattan (New York), Hoboken (New Jersey), Jersey City (New Jersey), Chicago (Illinois), San Francisco (California), Miami (Florida), Orlando (Florida), Washington, D.C. and Seattle (Washington).

According to the company, Avis First doesn’t replace the traditional rental model; it reimagines it entirely.

“When Warren Avis introduced rental cars at airports back in 1946, he redefined travel. With Avis First, we’re taking that spirit of innovation even further,” said Brian Choi, Avis’ CEO. “We’re here to set a benchmark that exceeds the expectations of today’s most demanding travelers. Avis First reflects where we’re headed as a company: innovating with purpose, delivering value where it matters most and doubling down on our legacy of trying harder for the customers we serve.”

Do you think Avis will once again redefine the meaning of luxury travel with its Avis First initiative? Do you think Waymo’s partnership with Avis to expand in Dallas will help it command a strong position in the U.S. robotaxi market?

Let us know in the comments below!