Waymo wants to expand its driverless robotaxis beyond San Francisco, opposition rises

A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives on Columbus Avenue in San Francisco, California, on Aug 16, 2023, one week after a state agency gave both Cruise and Ways the green light to begin accepting paid customers. — Bay Area News Group/TNS

The controversial Bay Area experiment in robot-driven taxi service will expand from San Francisco to much of the Peninsula if Google-spinoff Waymo’s application to state authorities succeeds – but it is already running into opposition.

Waymo on Jan 19 submitted its proposal to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which along with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regulates autonomous taxis in the state. The commission made a divisive decision in August to greenlight robotaxi service with paid fares in San Francisco, leading to roadway mayhem and a dramatic injury accident.