Waymo has secured approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service into new California territories. The decision permits Waymo to offer rides in Sacramento and San Diego for the first time, alongside an expansion of its services across the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. This expansion, initially announced in November 2025, follows Waymo's submission of a safety plan to the CPUC.

Despite a previous suspension of its request, Waymo's announcement indicates that any issues have been resolved. The approval allows Waymo to operate across 18 counties in Northern and Southern California, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura. The company has stated that the expansion will be gradual and guided by its safety framework.

Waymo had previously announced intentions to expand into San Diego in November 2025 and Sacramento in February 2026. The company is expected to utilize its existing Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and its new Ojai robotaxis, custom minivans manufactured by Zeekr, for these expanded services.