Waymo’s new California robotaxi rides stay free during state review
A CPUC delay means Waymo cannot yet charge riders for trips in its new Ojai vehicles or expand into proposed California service areas.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Waymo’s newest California robotaxis are carrying some passengers for free because state regulators have not approved the company’s request to add the vehicles to its paid fleet. The delay also holds up a broader expansion that would push the Alphabet-owned service into more parts of Northern and Southern California.
Wired reported that Waymo began offering rides last month in a pale blue vehicle it calls the Ojai, while continuing to charge for trips in its Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis. Waymo spokesperson Ethan Teicher said in a written statement that the company will not charge for Ojai rides in California until the California Public Utilities Commission approves its application.
California’s rules give the state a larger role in robotaxi operations than some other states, according to Wired. Autonomous vehicle companies need approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to operate on public roads, and they also need CPUC permission to carry paying passengers.
Expansion request remains pending
Waymo asked the CPUC in January to authorize a larger service area and to add the Ojai cars to its fleet, Wired reported. In Northern California, the proposed coverage area would run from Sea Ranch and Sacramento through Berkeley and Oakland to San Jose. In Southern California, it would extend beyond Los Angeles to Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita, and south past San Diego to the Tijuana border.
The review has stretched longer than expected after the CPUC sought more information from Waymo in May, according to Wired. The agency asked how the company handles emergency incidents, including a December San Francisco power outage that left more than 60 Waymo vehicles stuck in traffic.
The CPUC also asked for more detail on how Waymo prevents unaccompanied minors from riding in its cars, which Wired reported would violate state law. The questions followed a formal complaint from a labor union representing ride-hail drivers that accused Waymo of carrying unaccompanied minors.
Terrie Prosper, a CPUC spokesperson, told Wired that the agency’s Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division and Waymo agreed to extend the review through Sept. 25. Prosper said Waymo’s request remains under review and that the items the company wants approved have not been authorized.
Teicher said the CPUC could still act before that date, according to Wired. He also said Waymo is waiting to charge for Ojai trips until it is satisfied with progress in its Trusted Tester availability in California and Arizona.
New vehicle built for driverless service
Waymo describes the Ojai as its first vehicle designed specifically for use as a driverless taxi, Wired reported. The vehicle still includes a steering wheel and brake pedals, and it uses 13 cameras, six radar units and four lidar sensors to detect its surroundings.
The Ojai is manufactured by Zeekr, a Chinese company. Waymo told Wired the vehicle avoids a forthcoming ban on Chinese-connected automotive technology because Zeekr builds only the vehicle shell, while the connected systems are built and installed in the United States.
For now, the regulatory pause leaves Waymo able to operate the Ojai in California without charging passengers, while its paid service continues through the Jaguar I-Pace vehicles that make up most of its fleet, according to Wired.
This story draws on original reporting from Ars Technica.