Waymo's driverless taxis get the green light for 18 California counties

Auto Nov 23, 2025

Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving car company, just scored approval from California's DMV to run its driverless taxi service across 18 counties—including big names like LA, San Diego, San Francisco, Alameda, and Orange.
This move is set to boost how people get around and lets Waymo ramp up its testing of autonomous rides in more parts of the state.

Where it's headed and what to expect

Waymo says it'll launch in San Diego by mid-2026 but hasn't shared full rollout dates for other spots yet.
The current price is about $11.22 per kilometer—definitely pricier than most regular rideshares right now.
As these robotaxis show up in more places, Californians could have new ways to commute and explore the state without a human driver.