The California DMV has approved Waymo’s request to conduct driverless testing and deploy its robotaxis in more locations in the state. As CBS News According to the report, Waymo now has permission to operate throughout the Bay Area, Sacramento and most of Southern California up to the border with Mexico. This is a very large expansion based on maps provided by the state DMV. In the images below, you’ll see older areas of Waymo shaded darker, while lighter shaded areas indicate areas added in the expansion.
Waymo’s new operation map in California. (California DMV)
“We are officially authorized to drive fully autonomously in much of the Golden State,” Waymo said in an announcement on X. It did not say when it would begin testing and offer rides to the public in new areas, but said the company’s “next stop” in California is San Diego. Waymo will begin offering rides in the city in mid-2026. It will also deploy robotaxis in Las Vegas, including the airport, and the Strip with plans to expand to Detroit next year. Additionally, it recently announced that it is coming to Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando in 2026.
On the Waymo and San Francisco subreddits, people reported that Waymo robotaxis could be a hit in wine country. For example, people may call them for transportation if they are wine tasting.