Overview
- The amended DMV permit authorizes fully autonomous testing and deployment from the North and East Bay through Sacramento and across Southern California from Santa Clarita to San Diego, reaching the Mexican border.
- State documents list approved Waymo vehicle models as 2021 or 2024 Jaguar I‑Pace and 2022 or 2025 Zeekr RT for driverless operations.
- Waymo says San Diego is its next California market with first riders expected in mid-2026, subject to CPUC approval for commercial service.
- The company has not provided timelines for launching service in most of the newly permitted areas.
- Waymo notes it provides over one million monthly rides in San Francisco and Los Angeles, while federal safety oversight continues with an NHTSA investigation opened in 2024.