Overview
- The California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo’s application on Friday to run fully driverless, paid ride‑hailing across 18 counties including Sacramento and San Diego.
- The permit explicitly covers Waymo’s Jaguar I‑PACE fleet and the new Ojai robotaxi and allows operation at all speed limits, on highways and city streets, day or night and in rain, fog or hail while excluding widespread snow or ice.
- Waymo says the expansion will be gradual and guided by its safety framework, with rider‑only service expected to launch in San Diego later this summer and continued technology validation planned in Sacramento.
- The approval completes months of regulatory review of Advice Letter No. 4, which Waymo filed on January 28 and supplemented in May to address unaccompanied minors and procedures for service disruptions.
- Waymo points to more than 220 million autonomous miles and company data showing an estimated 94% fewer collisions causing serious injury, but wider rollout still depends on building depots, charging, mapping and answering local safety concerns.