Waymo can now offer driverless rides in Sacramento and San Diego. The California Public Utilities Commission gave the company permission to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service across more of the state, Waymo announced on August 14, 2026.
According to a report by Engadget, the approval covers 18 counties stretching across both northern and southern California. Those counties include Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura.
The CPUC's decision appears to be a response to a letter Waymo filed in January asking for approval on a safety plan tied to a service area expansion the company announced in November 2025. The request was at one point suspended by the CPUC, but Waymo's announcement suggests those issues have since been resolved.
The company said on social media that "expansion will be gradual and guided by our safety framework." Waymo is not expected to have robotaxis operating in all 18 counties immediately.
Waymo had announced plans to enter San Diego back in November 2025 and Sacramento in February 2026. In July, the company said it would soon begin testing fully autonomous rides without a safety driver in San Diego, Denver, Tampa, and Las Vegas.
Under the approval, Waymo will be able to offer rides using its existing Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and its newer Ojai robotaxis. The Ojai is a custom minivan built by Chinese automaker Zeekr. The company will also be able to expand service in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, where it already operates.
Engadget reported it had contacted the CPUC directly to confirm the details of the decision and would update its coverage if the agency responded.
