The company confirmed Monday that San Diego, along with Las Vegas and Detroit, will join its growing list of cities offering fully autonomous rides through the Waymo One platform. The expansion will bring the company’s total operating footprint to eight metropolitan areas, including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta.
In a statement on its website titled “We roll autonomously like our burritos - California style,” Waymo said it is preparing to begin service by deepening local partnerships, training first responders, and completing permit approvals with California regulators. The company emphasized that its San Diego rollout will be gradual and community-driven.
“By welcoming innovative and promising technologies like Waymo’s autonomous vehicle service, we’re exploring how to make transportation more accessible, more sustainable, and more connected for everyone in our community,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, in support of the launch.
Waymo vehicles have already been spotted throughout the city this year, gathering data and mapping routes in neighborhoods including Little Italy, Hillcrest, Balboa Park, East Village, and Mission Hills. Those initial tests, which began under human supervision in early 2025, were part of the company’s long-term plan to assess how its autonomous system - known as the Waymo Driver - performs in San Diego’s complex coastal environment.
The upcoming service will feature a mixed fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs equipped with Waymo’s fifth-generation autonomous driver, alongside new Zeekr RT vehicles built by Chinese automaker Geely and outfitted with the company’s sixth-generation technology. These purpose-built Zeekr robotaxis are designed specifically for autonomous passenger transport, offering a roomier cabin without traditional driving controls.
According to Waymo, its self-driving system has now completed over 10 million autonomous trips, logging billions of miles of training data across various climates and urban conditions. The company operates with human-free vehicles in several cities, with riders able to hail rides through the Waymo app - much like using Uber or Lyft, but without a driver.
Waymo’s San Diego rollout comes as part of its largest geographic expansion to date. Company officials said the service will work closely with local government agencies, emergency responders, and transit authorities to ensure a smooth integration of autonomous vehicles into the city’s roadways.
The California Public Utilities Commission will need to approve an expanded deployment permit before commercial operations can begin, but testing has already shown promising adaptation to local terrain and traffic flow.
“Earlier this year, we visited America’s Finest City and found that the Waymo Driver is easily adapting here,” the company said in its announcement. “Now, as we work to expand our deployment permits, we’re partnering with local teams, training first responders, and deepening community relationships so we can best serve the community and its visitors when we open our doors.”
Waymo’s expansion into San Diego comes amid renewed momentum - and scrutiny - for autonomous vehicle companies. Tesla launched its long-promised robotaxi service earlier this year, while Amazon-owned Zoox and other startups continue to invest heavily in the technology despite past setbacks in the industry.
Alphabet’s autonomous division has maintained a steadier trajectory, often focusing on smaller, regulated expansions instead of rapid scaling. In contrast, Cruise, General Motors’ self-driving arm, suspended operations in late 2024 following safety incidents and rising regulatory pressure.
San Diego’s inclusion in Waymo’s latest expansion underscores the city’s growing reputation as a testbed for cutting-edge mobility solutions. From electric microtransit pilots in North Park to the city’s Climate Action Plan goals for reducing vehicle emissions, San Diego has sought to position itself as a hub for sustainable transportation innovation.
Waymo has not yet announced a specific launch date, but operations could begin as early as mid-to-late 2026, pending final approvals. The company plans to continue testing and training throughout 2025, preparing for a commercial rollout that will bring autonomous rides to everyday San Diegans and visitors alike.
As Waymo put it, its goal is simple: “To keep our wheels rolling across the Golden State.”
According to Waymo, its self-driving system has now completed over 10 million autonomous trips, logging billions of miles of training data across various climates and urban conditions. The company operates with human-free vehicles in several cities, with riders able to hail rides through the Waymo app - much like using Uber or Lyft, but without a driver.
Waymo’s San Diego rollout comes as part of its largest geographic expansion to date. Company officials said the service will work closely with local government agencies, emergency responders, and transit authorities to ensure a smooth integration of autonomous vehicles into the city’s roadways.
The California Public Utilities Commission will need to approve an expanded deployment permit before commercial operations can begin, but testing has already shown promising adaptation to local terrain and traffic flow.
“Earlier this year, we visited America’s Finest City and found that the Waymo Driver is easily adapting here,” the company said in its announcement. “Now, as we work to expand our deployment permits, we’re partnering with local teams, training first responders, and deepening community relationships so we can best serve the community and its visitors when we open our doors.”
Waymo’s expansion into San Diego comes amid renewed momentum - and scrutiny - for autonomous vehicle companies. Tesla launched its long-promised robotaxi service earlier this year, while Amazon-owned Zoox and other startups continue to invest heavily in the technology despite past setbacks in the industry.
Alphabet’s autonomous division has maintained a steadier trajectory, often focusing on smaller, regulated expansions instead of rapid scaling. In contrast, Cruise, General Motors’ self-driving arm, suspended operations in late 2024 following safety incidents and rising regulatory pressure.
San Diego’s inclusion in Waymo’s latest expansion underscores the city’s growing reputation as a testbed for cutting-edge mobility solutions. From electric microtransit pilots in North Park to the city’s Climate Action Plan goals for reducing vehicle emissions, San Diego has sought to position itself as a hub for sustainable transportation innovation.
Waymo has not yet announced a specific launch date, but operations could begin as early as mid-to-late 2026, pending final approvals. The company plans to continue testing and training throughout 2025, preparing for a commercial rollout that will bring autonomous rides to everyday San Diegans and visitors alike.
As Waymo put it, its goal is simple: “To keep our wheels rolling across the Golden State.”
