Waymo Robotaxi Service Expansion Approved in California After Safety Concerns

After winning approval from the California Public Utilities Commission, Alphabet's Waymo robotaxi unit has been given the green light to expand its services to areas of Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The approval, posted on the regulator's website, allows Waymo to begin driverless passenger service operations in specified areas of Los Angeles and the San Francisco Peninsula.

Recall and Safety Concerns

In February, Waymo initiated a voluntary recall filing notice following the discovery of software issues. This decision came after two undisclosed incidents in Phoenix, where Waymo vehicles crashed into the same towed pickup truck within minutes of each other in December.

Regulatory Approval

The California Public Utilities Commission had previously rejected Waymo's proposal to expand its ride-hail services in Los Angeles and San Mateo County. However, the new proposal was approved after Waymo submitted an updated Passenger Safety Plan and an expanded operational design domain for deployment, which was also approved by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Industry Outlook

Waymo's progress in California comes amid General Motors-owned Cruise and Apple's exits from the autonomous vehicle business in the state. Meanwhile, Tesla, owned by Elon Musk, is yet to develop an autonomous vehicle that can safely operate without a human driver at the controls.

Operational Developments

With the new approvals, Waymo's robotaxis can now operate in close proximity to Tesla's Palo Alto engineering headquarters in San Mateo County. This expansion represents a significant milestone for Waymo in the competitive autonomous vehicle industry.

It is important to note that concerns about the use of autonomous vehicles in California do exist, with competing taxi and transit service providers, labor activists, and safety advocates expressing varying opinions on the matter. Nevertheless, the regulatory approvals signify a notable development for Waymo's expansion in the state.