Waymo gets regulatory approval to expand across Bay Area and Southern California

Waymo, the autonomous robotaxi company, has received regulatory approval to significantly expand its operational territory across the Bay Area and Southern California. In the Bay Area, the approved regions now include most of the East Bay, North Bay (including Napa/Wine Country), and Sacramento. In Southern California, Waymo’s authorized area extends from Santa Clarita north of Los Angeles down to San Diego. However, the company still requires additional regulatory clearance before it can begin carrying paying passengers in some of these newly approved regions. While specific timelines for launching rides in all these areas remain unclear, Waymo announced plans to start offering rides in San Diego by mid-2026. This expansion aligns with the company’s broader strategy to launch services next year in multiple other cities including Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Nashville, Orlando, San Antonio, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Recent company updates also highlight ongoing progress toward commercial launches in Miami and expanded operations in Los Angeles, San Francisco