Waymo is gradually expanding its borders in California

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 10: In an aerial view, Waymo cars are seen parked astatine a Waymo installation connected June 10, 2025 successful San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Waymo is continuing its dilatory and dependable attack to the robotaxi concern by gradually expanding its work area successful the cardinal cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The institution said that starting June 17th, it would statesman accepting passengers further southbound on the San Francisco Peninsula successful cities similar Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame. In Silicon Valley, riders successful Palo Alto and Menlo Park volition present beryllium capable to hail of the Waymo’s driverless vehicles.

And successful Los Angeles, Waymo is launching June 18th successful neighborhoods similar Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and the entirety of Sunset Boulevard. The institution concisely unopen down its work successful Los Angeles earlier this period aft anti-ICE protesters set respective robotaxis connected fire.

Waymo said that it was increasing its borders successful some cities by 80 quadrate miles, bringing its full sum country successful California to 250 quadrate miles. The institution precocious reported reaching the milestone of 10 cardinal paid rides, and is present serving 250,000 rides each week successful each 4 of its markets: SF, LA, Austin, and Phoenix. For those keeping track, Waymo got escaped of the waitlist and went nationalist in San Francisco successful June 2024 and Los Angeles successful November 2024.

Waymo operates its ridehail work successful California exclusively done its app, Waymo One. In Austin and soon Atlanta, the institution has opted to spouse with Uber by making its vehicles lone disposable done that company’s app.

The work representation enlargement comes arsenic the institution is getting acceptable to much than treble the size of its conveyance fleet. The Alphabet institution said it presently has 1,500 Jaguar I-Pace SUVs operating crossed its 4 main markets, and it plans connected adding 2,000 much vehicles into 2026, for a full fleet size of 3,500. 

But Waymo is inactive moving dilatory erstwhile it comes to road driving and airdrome entree — 2 important domains if the institution wants to outmaneuver Uber and Lyft successful the future. Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli said the institution was inactive testing its vehicles with employees connected the highways successful San Francisco and Los Angeles, and is successful progressive talks with some cities’ airports astir imaginable aboriginal service. Waymo has been conducting airdrome trips astatine Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport since precocious 2022, but it has yet to bring its driverless vehicles to either SFO oregon LAX.