Waymo cleared to expand robotaxi testing across much of California

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has approved Waymo’s request to expand driverless testing and deployment across large swaths of the state. The new approval lets Waymo operate throughout the Bay Area, in Sacramento and across most of Southern California up to the Mexico border — a big increase over its previous operating area.

Waymo confirmed the authorization on its platform and said the next major market will be San Diego, where the company plans to start offering rides sometime in mid‑2026. The expansion follows other announced city rollouts: Waymo has plans for Las Vegas (including the Strip and airport), Detroit, Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando in 2026.

What’s included in the expansion

• Expanded coverage: Bay Area, Sacramento and much of Southern California up to the Mexico border.
• Timeline: no exact start date for new areas yet, but Waymo targets San Diego mid‑2026.
• Other markets: ongoing rollouts in Las Vegas, Detroit and several Florida and Texas cities in 2026.

Why this matters

This authorization represents a major step for commercial autonomous mobility in the U.S. It broadens the public footprint where Waymo can test and potentially offer driverless rides, enabling larger‑scale data collection, more diverse operating conditions and expanded rider access. For consumers, it means more opportunities to experience robotaxis without human safety drivers.

Points to watch

• Safety & regulation: Expanded testing will draw scrutiny from local regulators and the public; performance in varied traffic and weather conditions will be closely watched.
• Public adoption: Availability across tourist areas (like Wine Country or the Las Vegas Strip) could speed familiarity and acceptance.
• Privacy & data: Broader operations may raise questions about data collection, mapping and rider privacy practices.

Waymo’s expansion map from the California DMV highlights previous operating zones and the newly added regions. While the company hasn’t given exact rollout dates for all newly authorized areas, its public roadmap points to an accelerated national expansion through 2026.

For more detail and the original reporting, see the announcement and coverage (opens in a new tab): Engadget — Waymo expands robotaxi testing in California.

Discussion: Would you take a driverless Waymo ride in your city — and what concerns or conditions would you want addressed before trying it?