Element and Waymo partner to scale autonomous vehicle fleets

Element Fleet Management has entered into a strategic multi-year partnership with Waymo to support the large-scale deployment and operation of autonomous vehicle (AV) fleets, marking a significant step forward in the commercialisation of autonomous mobility.

The partnership, delivered through Element Mobility, will provide end-to-end fleet management and operational services for Waymo’s autonomous mobility operations, beginning with an initial deployment in San Diego before expanding to additional markets.

The collaboration combines Waymo’s autonomous driving technology and ride-hailing platform with Element’s fleet management expertise, infrastructure capabilities and intelligent mobility solutions, creating an operational framework designed to support the growth of autonomous transportation services.

As autonomous vehicle adoption accelerates, fleet operators face increasingly complex requirements around vehicle readiness, charging infrastructure, maintenance, compliance and operational performance. The partnership is intended to address these challenges by providing an integrated operational and digital platform capable of managing autonomous fleets at scale.

“Autonomous mobility succeeds through operational intelligence, disciplined execution, and the ability to perform reliably across markets.

“This partnership combines Waymo’s industry-leading autonomous technology with Element’s global expertise in fleet management and operations. Together, we are enabling Waymo to scale autonomous mobility efficiently, reliably, and at a premium standard across markets.”

Under the agreement, Element will support Waymo through vehicle lifecycle management, charging infrastructure and energy management, maintenance coordination and fleet optimisation services. The aim is to maximise vehicle availability while ensuring reliable customer service as autonomous operations expand.

“Element brings the infrastructure, execution, and scale needed to deploy and operate Waymo’s fleet reliably.”

Waymo will continue to manage the performance and validation of its autonomous driving technology and plans to offer ride-hailing services directly to consumers through the Waymo app.

The partnership reflects the growing importance of fleet management and infrastructure expertise in enabling the next generation of mobility services. While autonomous driving technology often captures headlines, large-scale deployment also depends on effective vehicle operations, charging networks, maintenance processes and real-time fleet management.

For Element, the agreement strengthens its position in the rapidly evolving mobility sector and aligns with its strategy of supporting emerging transportation technologies through advanced fleet services and digital solutions.

As autonomous vehicle deployments continue to expand across North America and beyond, partnerships between technology providers and fleet specialists are expected to play an increasingly important role in bringing autonomous mobility to the mainstream.