California OKs major expansion for Waymo robotaxi
San Francisco Chronicle / Nov 24, 2025
The Department of Motor Vehicles has approved a sweeping enlargement of Waymo’s driverless operating territory, a move that could soon allow the company’s robotaxis to travel everywhere from Wine Country tasting rooms to the streets of Sacramento and the sprawling communities between Los Angeles and San Diego.
The amended permit, posted Friday on the DMV’s website, authorizes Waymo to operate fully driverless vehicles across the entire Bay Area, the North Bay and East Bay, and eastward to Sacramento, though the company would need separate approval before carrying paying passengers in those areas.
Wine Country business owners and Sacramento-area commuters have already expressed enthusiasm online, envisioning everything from safer late-night rides to new tourism flows.
In Southern California, the approval covers a vast stretch of territory running from Santa Clarita to San Diego — an area far larger than any in which autonomous ride-hail has ever been allowed in the United States.
Link (paywall): https://eedition.sfchronicle.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=d80bd58d-d9e8-46cd-b1f8-631fa16bb895&
According to the link, the company has already launched fully autonomous driving in five new U.S. cities this month — Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando.
--------------------------
Potential for catastrophe outweighs the potential for good IMO. It will open new doors for scammers and bad guys of all types. Also an attractive target for hackers, vandals and protestors.
= new reply since forum marked as read
