California Expansion Continues Despite Recent Vandalism and Service Limitations

Waymo, the autonomous driving subsidiary of Alphabet, announced Tuesday that it is expanding its robotaxi service area in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Silicon Valley by an additional 80 square miles. The expansion brings the company’s total commercial service area in California to over 250 square miles, with driverless Jaguar I-Pace vehicles now serving new pockets of three populous metro areas.

The move comes just over a week after several Waymo robotaxis were vandalized and burned during protests in Los Angeles over the Trump administration’s immigration raids. The company subsequently pulled back service in Los Angeles and limited its nationwide service in preparation for widespread protests over immigration policies. However, Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli confirmed that the company is still temporarily limiting its service in parts of Los Angeles, including downtown, and will continue to monitor the situation before ramping up service.

Despite the recent incidents, Waymo’s expansion plans remain on track. The company is now offering its service to riders in the San Francisco Bay Area communities of Brisbane, South SF, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame, as well as the Silicon Valley towns of Palo Alto and Menlo Park. In Los Angeles, Waymo will expand its service area starting Wednesday to include the neighborhoods of Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, and the entirety of Sunset Boulevard.

Waymo’s growth has been significant, with the company serving over a quarter of a million paid trips per week across its four markets in San Francisco, LA, Phoenix, and Austin. This represents a five-fold increase in weekly paid trips since June 2024. The company’s commercial fleet includes over 400 vehicles in LA and more than 600 in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The expansion is part of Waymo’s ongoing push into new markets, with the company continuing to invest in its autonomous driving technology and fleet. As the autonomous vehicle industry continues to evolve, Waymo remains at the forefront, with its robotaxi service area continuing to grow and expand across the United States.

Key Statistics:

Over 250 square miles of commercial service area in California

400+ vehicles in Los Angeles and 600+ in the San Francisco Bay Area

Over 250,000 paid trips per week across four markets

Five-fold increase in weekly paid trips since June 2024

Industry Implications:

Waymo’s expansion plans demonstrate its commitment to developing and deploying autonomous driving technology

The company’s growth in the autonomous vehicle market is expected to continue, with potential implications for the transportation industry as a whole

Waymo’s robotaxi service area expansion may prompt other companies to invest in autonomous driving technology and services.