StoryRegulatory
California regulators let Waymo expand robotaxi service across 18 counties
The California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo's request to run paid, fully driverless rides across 18 counties: the whole Bay Area, the Los Angeles region, plus Sacramento and San Diego. The approval covers any speed limit, freeways, day and night, rain, fog and hail; only widespread snow or ice is excluded. Waymo says the rollout will be gradual.
- Northern California (12 counties): Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo.
- Southern California (6): Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Ventura.
- Both the Jaguar I-Pace and the new Ojai vehicle with the sixth-generation Waymo Driver are covered.
- Waymo had about 3,000 vehicles across 1,400 square miles in 11 cities and over 20 million trips, aiming for 1 million rides a week by end of 2026.
- The request had been filed on 28 January 2026; permission is not service: each new area still needs depots, mapping and testing first.