Can I ride a robotaxi in Chicago?

What's happening in Chicago

Waymo is mapping and testing Chicago with a human safety driver. The work began after a Feb 25, 2026 announcement that also covered Charlotte, and the cars gather data on city streets without passengers. No other operator is active here.

Illinois law is the open question. Capitol News Illinois reported on Apr 7, 2026 that a bill to allow commercial autonomous vehicles was stuck in committee and "still in the negotiation phase." Nothing newer has been reported. Without that bill, or something like it, there is no clear route to paid rides, and Waymo has given Chicago no date beyond calling it "Up Next."

The nearest place to book a public robotaxi is Nashville, well to the south, where Waymo serves Downtown, Midtown, East Nashville and nearby neighborhoods through Lyft and its own app. Atlanta is farther still. Detroit, to the east, has autonomous Waymo rides for employees only.

Charlotte, named in the same announcement, is at the same stage, with test cars, safety drivers and no riders. TechCrunch's Feb 25, 2026 report on both cities and Waymo's own updates page are the main public record of the Chicago plan.