Autonomous Cars: Waymo Allowed to Test in Much Larger Area in California
Every week, Waymo transports hundreds of thousands of people in autonomous taxis. California now allows tests of the vehicles in the San Francisco and LA areas.
(Image: Waymo)
(Image:Â dmv.ca.gov/)
California's Department of Motor Vehicles has allowed Waymo to test and deploy autonomous vehicles in a much larger area around the metropolises of San Francisco and Los Angeles. This is according to a press release from the local DMV” data-lp-encoded="true">(DMV), which not only lists the approved vehicle types but also includes two maps of the areas. Autonomous cars from the subsidiary of Google's parent company Alphabet will be allowed to drive throughout the Bay Area, extending to Sacramento. Previously, they were only permitted in the direct city center of Los Angeles; now they will be allowed to drive in surrounding cities such as Pasadena and Santa Clara, as well as along the entire coast up to San Diego and the Mexican border.
No plans yet for using the permit
(Image:Â dmv.ca.gov)
The DMV's maps also show in which areas Waymo is already deploying autonomous vehicles” data-lp-encoded="true">Waymo is already deploying autonomous vehicles and how extensive the expansion is now. As the San Francisco Chronicle adds” data-lp-encoded="true">the San Francisco Chronicle adds, Waymo is now allowed to deploy autonomous vehicles in the area. However, a separate permit is required for transporting paying passengers, which has not yet been granted. CBS News adds that Waymo has also not yet made any plans public for utilizing the new permit. Waymo has only announced that it plans to offer autonomous taxi rides in San Diego next, starting in mid-2026.
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Waymo is currently the only robotaxi provider in the US whose vehicles can transport passengers autonomously and without a safety driver on board. The modified electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles are operating in Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, in addition to San Francisco and Los Angeles, and have already completed over a million paid rides in the two Californian metropolises alone, writes CBS” data-lp-encoded="true">writes CBS. Autonomous taxis are also scheduled to come to London in 2026. Even though, according to Waymo, the vehicles are significantly safer than normal taxis, there are still incidents that cause a stir. For example, a Waymo taxi recently ran over a popular cat.
(mho)