Waymo secures California's approval to expand its autonomous robotaxi service into more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, including tech hub San Jose.
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| Waymo earns regulatory clearance to expand robotaxi services in the San Francisco Bay Area, outpacing rivals amid renewed scrutiny of self-driving tech. Image: Waymo/ CH |
SAN FRANCISCO, USA — May 20, 2025:
Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary, Waymo, has received formal approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to expand its driverless robotaxi service across a wider portion of the San Francisco Peninsula—including the tech capital of San Jose.
This strategic regulatory milestone comes at a pivotal time as Tesla prepares to roll out its own paid robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, next month, with anticipated expansion into California later this year.
Waymo submitted its request in March and received 23 supportive responses with no opposition, according to a statement released Monday by CPUC. While the company now holds authorization, it emphasized that service expansion will proceed gradually.
“We want to bring Waymo One to more of the Bay Area, and any expansion of the service will happen methodically over time,” a company spokesperson said. No specific launch timeline has yet been announced.
Waymo remains the only company in the U.S. offering fully autonomous, commercial ride-hailing services with no safety drivers onboard. It currently operates over 1,500 vehicles in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin—facilitating more than 250,000 rides each week.
Despite this expansion, the self-driving industry continues to face intense scrutiny. In 2023, a major accident involving a General Motors’ Cruise robotaxi in San Francisco prompted the company to suspend operations. Waymo, too, is now recalling over 1,200 autonomous vehicles after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identified collision risks involving fixed road objects like chains and gates.
Meanwhile, NHTSA is also investigating Tesla's Full Self-Driving technology, especially its performance during low visibility. The agency recently requested Tesla disclose more about its upcoming robotaxi plans to determine how they will handle adverse conditions.
Waymo’s expansion reflects cautious optimism in the race toward fully autonomous urban mobility. As regulators, technologists, and the public closely monitor these developments, Waymo’s steady progress could set the tone for the broader deployment of self-driving services across North America.