California Approves Google Waymo’s Driverless Robotaxi Service in LA and More

Google’s Waymo autonomous robotaxi service is expanding.

California regulators approved the expansion of Waymo’s robotaxi convenience service to the cities south of Los Angeles and San Francisco on the 2nd.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced, “Starting today, Waymo can operate driverless passenger services in specific areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco.”

In response, Waymo assessed in a social media post, “The commission’s approval indicates trust in our operations to deploy Waymo One commercial services in LA and SF.”

Currently, Waymo has been operating its service in Phoenix since 2020.

The approval for Waymo’s expanded operation comes amid growing concerns and backlash due to consecutive accidents involving robotaxis.

After the CPUC approved paid operation services for General Motors subsidiary Cruise and Waymo last August, an accident occurred where Cruise’s robotaxi hit another vehicle and then ran over a pedestrian lying on the road, leading to the cancellation of its operation permit just two months later.

Waymo also has many issues to resolve before commercialization, including problems discovered such as blocking traffic due to sudden stops.

In response, administrators in San Mateo County and Los Angeles are opposing this expansion and demanding more local authority over robotaxi operations.

However, the CPUC stated, “We have shown interest in technology and safety that minimize the risks of driverless passenger services, and in the continuous evaluation and improvement of operations,” explaining, “We approve the new proposal according to Waymo’s updated Passenger Safety Plan (PSP).”