Waymo Expands Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service in California

Waymo, a leading developer of autonomous ride-hailing technology, has received permission from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to expand its service across more counties in the state.

Source: engadget.com

The company will be able to offer rides in Sacramento and San Diego for the first time, as well as expand its service in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. This decision is a significant milestone for Waymo, marking a major step forward in the development of autonomous ride-hailing technology in California.

According to the CPUC’s approval, Waymo will be able to offer rides in 18 counties across northern and southern California. These counties include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura.

Waymo’s announcement notes that expansion will be gradual and guided by its safety framework. This means that the company will carefully evaluate each new area and ensure that its safety protocols are in place before expanding its service.

The approval is a result of Waymo’s application submitted in January, which asked for permission to expand its service across the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, as well as bring its service to Sacramento and San Diego. The company’s application was initially met with feedback and even had its request suspended at one point, but the CPUC’s approval suggests that those issues have since been resolved.

Waymo’s expansion into new areas is a significant development in the autonomous ride-hailing industry. The company’s technology has the potential to revolutionize the way people travel, providing a safe and efficient alternative to traditional ride-hailing services.

Waymo’s announcement is a major win for the company, and a significant step forward in the development of autonomous ride-hailing technology in California.

Big news for the Golden State – we have received the CPUC’s approval to expand our autonomous ride-hailing service across the SF Bay Area and LA, and bring our service to Sacramento and San Diego. Expansion will be gradual and guided by our safety framework. We look forward to… – Waymo (@Waymo) August 14, 2026

Waymo has announced its intention to expand into San Diego in November 2025 and Sacramento in February 2026. In July, the company shared that it would soon test fully autonomous rides without a safety driver in San Diego, Denver, Tampa, and Las Vegas.

Based on the original letter Waymo filed, CPUC’s permission should allow the company to offer rides in California in its existing Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and its new Ojai robotaxis, custom minivans built by Chinese car maker Zeekr.

Waymo’s announcement is a significant development in the autonomous ride-hailing industry, and a major win for the company. The company’s technology has the potential to revolutionize the way people travel, providing a safe and efficient alternative to traditional ride-hailing services.