Waymo suspends service in San Francisco as robotaxis stall during blackout

Waymo suspended its robotaxi service in San Francisco on the evening of December 20, 2025, following a widespread blackout that caused many of its autonomous vehicles to stall on city streets. Social media posts showed Waymo vehicles stuck at intersections while human drivers navigated around them. The blackout, reportedly caused by a fire at a Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) substation, led to the failure of traffic lights and disruption of public transit, prompting San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie to advise residents to avoid travel unless necessary. Approximately 120,000 PG&E customers were affected, with 35,000 still without power the following morning. Waymo spokesperson Suzanne Philion confirmed the temporary suspension of services and stated that the company was working closely with city officials to monitor infrastructure stability, aiming to resume operations soon. While Waymo did not specify why the blackout had such a significant impact on its vehicles, speculation included the loss of traffic signals and potential interruptions to the company’s communication or navigation systems