They’re coming.
Waymo, the driverless taxi company owned by Google, has received approvals from a state regulator allowing its autonomous vehicles to begin operating in San José and other nearby cities.
The California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates power, telecommunication and transportation industries, gave the green light for the robotaxis that have flooded San Francisco’s streets to begin rolling in the South Bay, according to a letter from the state to the company.
Mayor Matt Mahan, in a statement, said it’s about time robotaxis came to San José.
“For decades, our region has shaped the future — and now, the ride to work is as forward-thinking as the breakthroughs happening at the office,” Mahan said.
Mahan also posted on the social media platform X that Waymo will “fit right in” as the company “embodies our region’s spirit of innovation.” However, it’s unclear when the driverless taxis will arrive in the South Bay.
“While this won’t change our operations in the near-term, we’re looking forward to bringing the benefits of Waymo One to more of the Bay Area in the future,” Waymo said on X on Monday afternoon.
A company spokesperson told KQED in an email on Monday that there is no timeline to share.
“Any expansion of our service will happen methodically over time, and as we grow, we’ll work with local communities, officials, and first responders every step of the way,” the statement said.
The company received approval for the South Bay expansion from the DMV, which regulates the operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads, on March 17.
Waymo applied for an amendment to its current CPUC permit in late March, including an updated passenger safety plan, to gain approval to sell rides to passengers. Waymo is providing “more than one million driverless rides each quarter across the San Francisco Peninsula and in the greater Los Angeles area,” the company said in its application letter.
Waymo’s Bay Area service boundary previously extended from San Francisco south to parts of Sunnyvale. With Monday’s approval, the company will be allowed to operate in nearly all of San José, as well as Los Gatos, Milpitas and larger portions of the Peninsula.
The company’s application to the CPUC for a permit amendment was supported by 23 individuals and organizations, including Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-Santa Clara, the San José Sharks, the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley and the San José Downtown Association.
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