Waymo has established a dedicated outpost in the Grand II building in Tempe, marking a new chapter in its real estate presence as the company scales its autonomous ride-hailing operations. The self-driving unit signed a sublease for more than 40,350 square feet earlier this year, a commitment company officials say will support future growth in the region.
A Waymo Jaguar I‑PACE equipped with rooftop sensors pauses at an urban intersection; Waymo has opened a dedicated office in the Phoenix/Tempe market.
A Waymo spokesperson noted that the Phoenix area was where the company first launched its fully autonomous ride-hailing service and described opening the dedicated office as “a natural next step that deepens our investment in the region and allows us to continue building on the thousand jobs we've proudly created here.”
The Tempe lease will backfill space that DoorDash had been trying to sublease for a couple of years. DoorDash had fully leased the 358,800-square-foot Grand II building at 1033 W. Roosevelt Way when construction finished in 2019, but later placed large blocks of its space on the sublease market as the company adjusted its real estate needs.
Waymo first launched operations in the Phoenix area in 2018, and its self-driving vehicles have become a common sight throughout the city and nearby suburbs as the service has gained traction among riders.
Beyond Phoenix, Waymo is rolling out or planning service in a number of other U.S. markets. Cars are driving or will soon be deployed in Austin and Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Seattle, Washington; and additional cities. The company says it plans to expand coverage to more than 1,400 square miles across at least 11 cities, a nearly 30% increase from its prior footprint and more area than the state of Rhode Island.
In the Phoenix market alone, Waymo’s service area now spans more than 315 square miles. This month the company also announced initiatives to deepen service in existing hubs, a move that could lead to further local investments in real estate tied to its growing operations.
Waymo test vehicle on a Phoenix-area street near 61st Street, framed by desert landscaping — illustrating Waymo’s growing presence in Arizona.