Waymo Expands Driverless Robotaxi Service Across 80 Square Miles in California

Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving unit and the leading robotaxi service provider in the U.S., is expanding its commercial robotaxi service by 80 square miles across California, including new areas in the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles. This expansion adds cities such as Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and neighborhoods in Los Angeles like Playa del Rey and Echo Park to Waymo's coverage, bringing its total California service area to over 250 square miles. Despite recent challenges, including protests in Los Angeles that led to temporary service reductions and vehicle vandalism, Waymo continues to serve around 250,000 paid rides weekly and has reached 10 million rides overall. The company plans to more than double its current fleet of 1,500 Jaguar I-Pace SUVs to 3,500 vehicles by 2026, signaling a steady but cautious growth strategy. Waymo also partners with nonprofits to offer free or discounted rides to seniors and people with mobility issues, enhancing accessibility and community support. This expansion occurs as Tesla prepares to enter the robotaxi market, marking increased competition in autonomous urban transportation.