Waymo gets green light to expand operations across California
What's the story
Waymo, the self-driving car service owned by Alphabet, has received regulatory approval to expand its operations in California. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) recently released a map showing the new areas where Waymo can legally test and deploy its autonomous taxis. The approved regions include major urban centers and suburbs such as San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Napa County, and more.
Coverage details
Expansion covers densely populated areas
The new map covers a large part of California's wine country and fills in the gaps of the Bay Area. It also provides extensive coverage to heavily populated regions in Southern California. Most of Orange and San Diego counties are now officially approved Waymo zones, which could open up driverless taxi traffic on famous California highways and freeways.
Impact
It could transform commuting in California
If Waymo launches its service in these newly approved areas, it could revolutionize commuting. People could travel for hours in Waymo vehicles or take long day trips. Exurban residents could even use Waymo rides to reach Los Angeles International Airport. However, the cost of such rides could be significantly higher than traditional human-piloted services like Lyft or Uber.
Future plans
Waymo's 1st expansion to San Diego
Waymo has not revealed any specific plans for launching its service in these newly approved areas. However, the company has confirmed its next expansion will be in San Diego, where it plans to welcome riders by mid-2026. This comes after the company's recent announcements of entering Minneapolis, New Orleans, and Tampa, removing safety drivers ahead of its commercial launch in Miami, and offering rides using freeways in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix.