Waymo expands robotaxi service to Sacramento and San Diego

Waymo has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service across 18 counties in California, including new markets Sacramento and San Diego. The approval, announced Friday, allows the Alphabet-owned company to more than triple its service area in the regions surrounding Los Angeles and San Francisco Source: Los Angeles Times. Expansion will be gradual, guided by Waymo's safety framework, with an immediate focus on launching rider-only service in San Diego later this summer Source: Los Angeles Times.

Regulatory background

The CPUC's approval responds to a letter Waymo filed in January requesting permission for the expanded service area it announced in November 2025 Source: Engadget. The request was temporarily suspended at one point, but Waymo's announcement indicates those issues have been resolved Source: Engadget. The new service area includes counties such as Alameda, Sacramento, San Diego, and Orange Source: Engadget.

Expansion details

Waymo plans to scale up existing services in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles while entering Sacramento and San Diego Source: Fox Business. The company did not provide a timeline for launching in new areas but emphasized a gradual approach Source: Fox Business. The approval allows Waymo to operate its existing Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and its new Ojai robotaxis, custom minivans built by Zeekr Source: Engadget.

Safety and context

Waymo has faced recalls this year, including nearly 4,000 robotaxis in June due to software issues related to construction zones Source: Fox Business. Despite this, Waymo reports its vehicles have driven over 220 million fully autonomous miles and are involved in an estimated 94% fewer serious-injury collisions Source: Los Angeles Times. The company operates in more than 10 major cities, ahead of competitors like Tesla and Zoox Source: Los Angeles Times.