Waymo robotaxis are pushing into even more California cities

Waymo is set to broaden its robotaxi operations by covering an additional 80 square miles in key California regions, including Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Silicon Valley. This expansion, announced on Tuesday, brings the total area of Waymo's commercial service to over 250 square miles across the state, introducing their autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to new neighborhoods in three major metropolitan areas. This announcement follows a turbulent period for the company, as several of its robotaxis were vandalized and set ablaze during protests in Los Angeles related to immigration policy issues. These events, which drew significant media attention, led Waymo to temporarily suspend its services in certain parts of Los Angeles. In response to ongoing concerns, the company has taken precautions to limit its operations nationwide as protests continue to unfold. Chris Bonelli, a spokesperson for Waymo, stated that the company consistently evaluates its service based on local traffic patterns, events, and guidance from authorities. He confirmed that the service in downtown Los Angeles remains restricted, but assured that the situation is being monitored closely, with plans to resume full operations as conditions improve. Despite the recent setbacks, Waymo's ambitions remain undeterred. Starting Tuesday, the company will extend its service to new neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame, as well as in Silicon Valley towns like Palo Alto and Menlo Park. Additionally, beginning Wednesday, the Los Angeles service area will expand to include Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and the entirety of Sunset Boulevard. With these changes, riders will now have the option to travel from Mid-City to Inglewood and Westchester, covering more than 120 square miles of Los Angeles County. Since June 2024, Waymo has experienced remarkable growth, with weekly paid trips across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin increasing by five times. Currently, the company facilitates over a quarter of a million paid rides each week in these four cities, supported by a fleet of over 400 vehicles in Los Angeles and more than 600 in the San Francisco Bay Area.