Waymo has Received Approval from California Officials to Expand Robotaxis

Waymo, a startup that develops autonomous driving technology, just received approval to expand its service into the counties of San Mateo and Los Angeles.

According to the California Public Utility Commission, it has received 81 letters in favor of allowing autonomous taxis to operate outside of San Francisco and five against.

Formerly known as the Google self-driving car project, Waymo is a division of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, a technology firm.

It’s unclear when the robotaxis will be accessible in Los Angeles, even with CPUC’s approval.

In August, Waymo joined the ranks of just two businesses offering paid rides in San Francisco, where it has been conducting autonomous test trips since 2018. Last year, it started testing its driverless white Jaguars in Los Angeles, offering locals an invitation-only period to try out the service.

Robotaxis: In San Francisco, autonomous taxis are available around-the-clock.

Waymo said the company plans to “take a careful and incremental approach to expansion by continuing to work closely with city officials, local communities and our partners to ensure we’re offering a service that’s safe, accessible and valuable to our riders.”