Alphabet company Waymo has received the green light from the California Public Utilities Commission to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Peninsula, and on San Francisco freeways.
The recently granted approval is an exciting development for Waymo as it eliminates the last hurdle in offering paid rides in these expanded areas. This opens the door to new opportunities for the company in one of the largest cities in the country and provides a direct route to the San Francisco Airport.
In August, Waymo gained initial approval from the commission to operate its commercial service 24/7 in San Francisco. It also obtained permission to provide free driverless rides in select areas of Los Angeles. However, until now, it was not permitted to charge for trips in the City of Angels.
Following increased demands and five protests, the CPUC’s Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division temporarily suspended Waymo’s application to expand its robotaxi service in Los Angeles and San Mateo counties. This was to allow for additional time for thorough review and incorporation into the staff decision beyond the standard 30-day period.
In October, Waymo embarked on a community tour of Los Angeles, with its final stop taking place just as it awaited final approval from the CPUC.
The commission’s decision comes on the heels of Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana’s discussion about the future of the company and the greater autonomous vehicle industry at TechCrunch’s Strictly VC event in Los Angeles. During the event, Mawakana touted the warm reception Waymo’s robotaxis have received in the city, with over 15,000 people using the service. She also shared that data from trips indicates customers are utilizing the service for everyday tasks.
“It’s exciting to see that about 2,000 of those trips are for simple errands. This shows that using a Waymo for daily tasks is becoming a regular part of people’s lives,” said Mawakana. “In addition, around 2,000 trips are for restaurants or bars, while 300 are for school and college, including K-12. This signals not only a warm welcome from the community but also integration into their daily routines.”
According to Mawakana, 50,000 individuals have joined the waitlist to use Waymo’s service in Los Angeles.
This story is still unfolding, so stay tuned for updates.
