Waymo Sees 'Meaningful' Drop in San Francisco Pickup Times Amidst Major Expansion

San Francisco, CA – Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary, is reportedly achieving significantly shorter pickup times in San Francisco, marking a notable improvement in its service efficiency. According to a social media post by user Dean W. Ball on September 13, 2025, "waymo in sf has gotten extremely good and the pickup times have dropped meaningfully since my last time using it (~late 2024)." This user observation highlights the impact of Waymo's aggressive expansion and technological advancements in the challenging urban environment of San Francisco.

Waymo has been rapidly scaling its operations across the San Francisco Bay Area, securing approvals and expanding its service footprint. Since opening its fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the general public in San Francisco in June 2024, the company has progressively added new areas including Daly City, Broadmoor, Colma, Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame. Further expansions in March and June 2025 brought coverage to parts of Silicon Valley, including Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park, with regulatory approval also granted for San Jose.

The reported reduction in pickup times is likely a direct result of Waymo's increased fleet size and continuous refinement of its Waymo Driver technology. The company recently announced plans to build over 2,000 more fully autonomous Jaguar I-PACE vehicles through 2026, supported by a new manufacturing facility designed to produce tens of thousands of vehicles annually. These efforts, combined with advanced AI and optimized routing algorithms, enable Waymo to more efficiently meet rider demand and minimize wait times.

Waymo currently operates over 1,500 vehicles across its markets in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, completing more than 250,000 paid trips weekly. The positive user feedback from San Francisco, a critical market due to its complex urban landscape, underscores the company's progress in delivering a reliable and convenient autonomous ride-hailing experience. Waymo's ongoing expansion, including discussions to serve San Francisco International Airport, positions it as a frontrunner in the autonomous vehicle industry, aiming for broader public adoption.