Is Waymo coming to Oakland?

Waymo is in talks to potentially expand its self-driving taxi services to Oakland, as confirmed by Councilmember Zac Unger. Unger noted that Waymo representatives indicated interest but did not provide a specific timeline for the expansion. Currently, Waymo operates fully autonomous taxis in San Francisco but is limited to vehicles with human drivers in Oakland. Tesla is also seeking to operate robotaxis at Oakland International Airport, having initiated discussions with airport officials. Both companies must secure permits from the California DMV and the Port of Oakland to operate legally.

As of September 2, 29 autonomous vehicle companies have permits to test vehicles with safety drivers in California. Local leaders, including San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, have shown support for the expansion of autonomous vehicle services. Waymo is also expanding its operations to other cities, including Denver and Seattle.