Wire · technology
California Just Handed Waymo Its Biggest Robotaxi Expansion Yet — 18 Counties, No Driver
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Fusion42 · 19 August 2026 · Fusion42 review
The California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo to charge fares for driverless robotaxi rides across 18 counties, expanding its operational area significantly with about 3,871 vehicles covered under the deployment. The approval did not revisit safety but focused on passenger service rules, while a critical freeway construction zone safety recall affects certain Waymo vehicles built between 2022 and 2026.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Micromobility.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
Waymo's driverless taxi service is now officially authorised to operate across a vast part of California’s urban and suburban freeway zones. You in autonomous vehicle mobility should prepare for increased competition and consider how recalls and service limits on construction zone driving might affect fleet reliability and customer trust.
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1 source · 19 Aug 2026
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