Robotaxi industrial real estate has become its own news category in 2026. Waymo, Zoox, Uber and Lyft have signed leases for nearly 1 million square feet of industrial space this year, according to Cushman & Wakefield data reported by Bisnow and summarized by CRE Daily.[1] A driverless car still needs somewhere to park, charge, be cleaned and be checked. This guide pulls together what has been reported, attributes each claim to its source, and is clear about what is not known.
How much industrial space have robotaxi companies leased?
CRE Daily reports that robotaxi firms signed leases for nearly 1 million square feet of industrial space in 2026, compared with 830,000 square feet combined from 2022 to 2025.[1] Much of the new activity is in markets where robotaxis are not yet legal, and many companies are searching without disclosing who they are.[1]
| Company | Reported space | Where | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoox | 350,000+ sq ft, two buildings | Hayward, CA | [2][3] |
| Zoox | 34,000 sq ft staging hub (May) | Hayward, CA | [1] |
| Waymo | 65,000 sq ft, full building | Malden, MA | [4] |
| Waymo | 32,000 sq ft, one of three maintenance and charging sites | Washington, DC | [1] |
| Lyft (Flexdrive) | 80,000 sq ft, built to support Waymo | Nashville, TN | [1] |
| Uber | 50,000 sq ft depot and charging site, operations slated for 2027 | Houston, TX | [1] |
What is Zoox leasing in Hayward?
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Zoox, the Amazon-owned robotaxi company, leased more than 350,000 square feet across two industrial buildings at 25500 Clawiter Road in Hayward, near its existing robotaxi production facility.[2] The Chronicle described the move as more than doubling Zoox's robotaxi footprint in the city, and local coverage says Hayward issued a business license.[3] A Zoox spokesperson said the space supports scaling the purpose-built robotaxi fleet but did not say how it will be used.[2] Industrial market reports suggest the lease may date back to the second quarter, so the news may be later than the deal.
What is Waymo leasing in Malden, Massachusetts?
According to Hunneman's third-quarter industrial report, covered by Banker & Tradesman, Waymo signed a full-building lease for a 65,000 square foot industrial building at 180 Charles Street in Malden. The building sits on 3.8 acres and dates to 1977. The lease comes as Waymo pursues approval to operate in Massachusetts.[4] The reports do not say what the building will be used for.
Are these leases robotaxi depots?
Not necessarily, and the reporting does not say. Square footage is not a servicing plan. A large lease could cover vehicle production, storage, staging, charging, maintenance, or a mix. Zoox has not said what the Hayward buildings are for, and no source describes the Malden building's use. Where a company has described a site as a maintenance and charging site, as with Waymo's 32,000 square foot Washington, DC facility, that is worth noting. Otherwise it is fair to read the pattern as "robotaxi companies are securing physical space ahead of growth," and not to label any single building by function.
Why does power matter more than floor space?
CRE Daily's reporting is blunt on this point: power is the gating factor. Brokers quoted there say leases, approvals, permits, construction and electrical infrastructure all take a long time, and that a utility hookup in New York can take years because utilities typically will not provide that much power on spec.[1]
Field reporting from Dallas shows what that looks like on the ground. Road to Autonomy described a Waymo and Avis site where vehicles are cleaned, maintained and charged using temporary skid-mounted DC fast chargers on generators, while a permanent hub is built with roughly ten Alpitronic HYC-400 units, about 40 charging points, under canopies.[5] That is one reporter's observation of one site, but it fits the broader point: the building is the easy part and the electrical service is the long lead item. For the math behind charging speed, see our sister site's guide to fleet charging time.
What does a robotaxi site have to handle every day?
- Parking and staging. Vehicles that are not on a trip need a safe place to wait, close to demand.
- Charging. Power capacity and charger count set how many vehicles can return to service per hour.
- Cleaning and inspection. With no driver on board, interiors and sensors still need regular checks and resets between rides.
- Maintenance. Tires, brakes, calibration and software checks all happen somewhere.
Each task grows with fleet size. A site that suits a pilot of a few dozen vehicles can be too small once a city reaches hundreds. Our earlier piece on how fleet growth affects charging and cleaning capacity covers that scaling pressure, and robotaxi fleet servicing explains the work between trips in more detail.
Who runs the operating layer?
Space is only part of the picture. Fleet management partners are being brought in to run it. Element Fleet Management supports Waymo in San Diego and, per Element's own announcement, will support Waymo's planned Toronto launch in 2028.[6] Avis is Waymo's partner in Dallas.[5] Lyft's Flexdrive unit is building the Nashville site noted above.[1] The pattern is that robotaxi growth runs through facilities and partners as much as through vehicles.
What should operators ask before leasing a robotaxi site?
- How much power can the site realistically get, and how long does the utility upgrade take?
- Which tasks must happen on site (charging, cleaning, inspection, light maintenance), and which can a partner handle?
- How does servicing capacity grow with each new city so vehicles in service do not outpace the sites behind them?
- What records show that a vehicle is ready to return to service?
Robotaxi Pit Stop is developing charging and cleaning support for autonomous fleets, with Tesla Certified Installer capability on the electrical side. See our services or get in touch if you are planning servicing capacity for a new market.
Sources
[1] CRE Daily, Sept 30, 2026, citing Cushman & Wakefield data via Bisnow and The Real Deal: Robotaxi Firms Lease Nearly 1M SF of Industrial Space in 2026
[2] San Francisco Chronicle (paywalled): Zoox Hayward expansion, 350,000 square feet
[3] We Are The Frontier, Oct 15, 2026: Zoox doubles Hayward industrial footprint
[4] Banker & Tradesman: Waymo leases Malden property for Mass. expansion
[5] Road to Autonomy, Oct 12, 2026: Waymo Dallas Avis depot field report
[6] Element Fleet Management, via PR Newswire: Element expands strategic partnership with Waymo
Frequently asked questions
How much industrial space have robotaxi companies leased in 2026?
CRE Daily, citing Cushman & Wakefield data via Bisnow, reports that Lyft, Uber, Waymo and Zoox have signed leases for nearly 1 million square feet of industrial space in 2026, compared with 830,000 square feet combined from 2022 to 2025.
What is Zoox leasing in Hayward, California?
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Zoox leased more than 350,000 square feet across two industrial buildings in Hayward, near its robotaxi production facility. A Zoox spokesperson said it supports scaling the fleet but did not say how the space will be used.
What is Waymo leasing in Malden, Massachusetts?
Per Hunneman's third-quarter industrial report, covered by Banker & Tradesman, Waymo signed a full-building lease for a 65,000 square foot industrial building in Malden as it pursues approval in Massachusetts. The reports do not state its use.
Why does power matter for robotaxi sites?
Brokers quoted by CRE Daily say electrical infrastructure, permits and utility hookups take a long time and are the gating factor, often longer than securing the building itself.
Independent commentary. Brand references describe public industry examples and do not imply affiliation. Operator and company claims are attributed, not independently audited.
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