July 28 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Waymo said on

Monday it will roll out its autonomous ride-hailing service in

Dallas in 2026, accelerating its U.S. expansion as electric

vehicle maker Tesla pushes to grow its recently

launched robotaxi business.

After years of cautious growth, Waymo has recently

increased its pace, launching in new cities through partnerships

with ride-hailing platforms and fleet operators.

In Dallas, Waymo will operate through a new multi-year

partnership with car rental company Avis Budget Group ( CAR ),

which will manage fleet operations, including maintenance and

depot infrastructure, Waymo said in a blog.

Waymo currently serves more than 250,000 paid trips every

week with about 1,500 vehicles in cities such as Phoenix, San

Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin.

This year, Waymo began its service in Austin exclusively on

the Uber platform, months before Tesla started a limited

robotaxi trial in the city with about a dozen Model Y SUVs and a

human safety monitor in the front passenger seat.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said the company will rapidly expand

its robotaxi services to other U.S. cities and is seeking

regulatory approval from California, Nevada, Florida, and

Arizona.

Commercializing autonomous vehicles has been challenging,

with several companies such as GM's Cruise shutting down after

collisions, recalls, and federal investigations.

Amazon ( AMZN )-backed Zoox is among the few still

operating, preparing to launch commercial services later this

year.

Until Tesla's Austin trial, Waymo was the only

company to operate paid driverless taxis in the United States.

Rides will be available through the Waymo app. The company

is also planning launches in Miami and Washington, D.C., in 2026

as part of its broader national rollout.

The collaboration is part of Avis' broader strategy to

evolve from a traditional rental car company into a mobility

services provider.