Waymo Secures Full Commercial Operations in San Francisco Amidst Regulatory Approval and Continued Expansion

San Francisco, CA – Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving technology company, has solidified its operational presence in San Francisco, gaining full approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in August 2023 to offer 24/7 paid robotaxi services throughout the city. This regulatory milestone, which also extended to GM's Cruise, marked a significant step for autonomous vehicle deployment despite considerable opposition from local authorities and residents.

The CPUC's 3-1 vote on August 10, 2023, granted Waymo the ability to charge fares for driverless rides at any time, a move that Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana hailed as "the true beginning of our commercial operations in San Francisco." This decision followed extensive testing and limited operations, positioning San Francisco as a critical hub for the advancement of autonomous mobility.

However, the expansion faced vigorous pushback from city agencies, including the San Francisco Fire Department and Municipal Transportation Agency, citing numerous incidents where autonomous vehicles allegedly interfered with emergency services and traffic flow. Reports indicated hundreds of incidents involving Waymo and Cruise vehicles stopping unexpectedly or causing disruptions. Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson expressed concerns about autonomous vehicles impacting emergency responses, stating that the technology was "still not ready for prime time."

Despite these challenges, Waymo has continued its expansion. In August 2024, the company announced a further addition of 10 square miles to its San Francisco service area, extending coverage to neighboring cities like Daly City, Broadmoor, and Colma, increasing its total commercial territory to approximately 55 square miles. Waymo also reported serving over two million paid trips across its markets, including San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, with over 50,000 paid trips weekly.

The robust regulatory approval and ongoing expansion efforts have been interpreted by some as a definitive win for autonomous vehicle proponents. As tech commentator Mike Solana stated in a recent tweet, > "hope i’m not speaking too soon but it seems like the haters and losers just completely lost the fight against self-driving cars in san francisco. total waymo victory. waymo nationalism ascendant." This sentiment reflects the growing confidence within the industry regarding the long-term viability and increasing acceptance of self-driving technology in complex urban environments. Waymo continues to emphasize its safety record, asserting that its vehicles are safer than human drivers, a claim it supports with internal data and partnerships with entities like Swiss Re.