Waymo robotaxis approved to expand across 18 California counties

Waymo's robotaxi service is set to expand across 18 counties in California after getting state approval,the company announced Friday, Aug. 14. The California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo’s updated Passenger Safety Plan application, which was initially filed in January. Currently, Waymo

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Waymo's robotaxi service is set to expand across 18 counties in California after getting state approval,the company announced Friday, Aug. 14.

The California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo’s updated Passenger Safety Plan application, which was initially filed in January.

Currently, Waymo — which is owned by Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. — offers service in California in the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of Los Angeles County. The approval will allow for the autonomous commercial ride-hailing service to expand to cities spanning a dozen counties in Northern California and six more in Southern California.

Big news for the Golden State — we have received the CPUC’s approval to expand our autonomous ride-hailing service across

the SF Bay Area and LA, and bring our service to Sacramento and San Diego. Expansion will be gradual and guided by our safety framework. We look forward to…

— Waymo (@Waymo) August 14, 2026

“This is an important milestone that will allow Waymo to bring the safety and mobility benefits millions of Californians already enjoy to more communities across the state,” Sandy Karp, Waymo’s communications manager, said in an Aug. 19 email to USA TODAY Co.

Northern California counties approved for Waymo expansion include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties. In Southern California, the approved counties are Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura.

Waymo Operational Design Domain Map - Northern California deployment area. The more lightly shaded area is Waymo’s expanded ODD for deployment operations approved by the DMV on November 21, 2025.

When asked about a timeline for the Golden State expansion, Karp said the company is working on getting permits, adding that "expansion will be gradual and guided by its safety framework.”

The company will focus on preparing a late-summer launch of a San Diego ride-only service and will continue to “validate its technology in Sacramento,” according to Karp.

The approval includes the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE and Waymo’s custom robotaxi model, Ojai, which debuted earlier this year.

Waymo Operational Design Domain Map - Southern California deployment area. The more lightly shaded area is Waymo’s expanded ODD for deployment operations approved by the DMV on November 21, 2025.