[AutonomousVehicles] Waymo Expanding into 18 Additional California Counties

[Tim Elder]

I assume these are through the Waymo app.  They partner with Uber in other jurisdictions for specific regulatory reasons.  All Waymo rides in the Bay Area have been through the Waymo platform.

 

 

From: AutonomousVehicles <autonomousvehicles-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jim Barbour via AutonomousVehicles
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2026 4:15 PM
To: autonomous Vehicles Discussion <autonomousvehicles at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jim Barbour <jbar at barcore.com>
Subject: Re: [AutonomousVehicles] Waymo Expanding into 18 Additional California Counties

 

Do we know if these will be in partnership with Uber or if these will be through the Waymo app? I’ve been very disappointed with the experiences I’ve had when partnering with Uber, and very happy with the experiences. I’ve had using the Waymo app directly. Hoping for the best.

 

Do we know if these will be in partnership with Uber or if these will be through the Waymo app? I’ve been very disappointed with the experiences I’ve had when partnering with Uber, and very happy with the experiences. I’ve had using the Waymo app directly. Hoping for the best.

 

Jim.





On Aug 15, 2026, at 2:28 PM, Cornelius Butler via AutonomousVehicles <autonomousvehicles at nfbnet.org <mailto:autonomousvehicles at nfbnet.org> > wrote:



On August 14, 2026, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved Waymo’s Advice Letter No. 4, authorizing commercial, fare-charging driverless operations across 18 counties in Northern and Southern California.

Key Details of the 18-County Expansion

Northern California — 12 Counties:
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo.

Southern California — 6 Counties:
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura.

New Commercial Markets:
The approval authorizes commercial passenger service in Sacramento and San Diego, along with major operational expansions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles.

Fleet Scope:
The authorization covers both Waymo’s retrofitted Jaguar I-PACE vehicles and its custom Ojai robotaxis, based on the Zeekr platform and equipped with Waymo’s 6th-generation Driver.

Operating Profile:
Waymo is authorized to operate on local streets, highways, freeways, and rail crossings during the day and at night, including in rain and fog.

Official Links

CPUC Regulatory Approval — Advice Letter No. 4:
https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/consumer-protection-and-enforcement-division/documents/tlab/av-programs/tcp0038152a-waymo-al-0004.pdf

Waymo Official Newsroom:
https://waymo.com/blog/

Waymo Service Expansion Updates:
https://waymo.com/blog/shorts/growing-to-1400-sqm/

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