Waymo opens San Diego robotaxi rides to all app users
The Oct. 14 change ends the access-code system, but trips remain limited to the company’s existing service area.
Waymo has opened its San Diego ride-hailing service to anyone who downloads its app, removing the early-access-code requirement that had limited bookings since the service began carrying public passengers in September.
The Oct. 14 change applies within Waymo’s existing app service area, rather than opening a newly defined territory or adding fleet, fare or coverage figures. FOX 5 San Diego reported that rides are available in Mission Bay, Ocean Beach, Sunset Cliffs, Hillcrest, North Park, Balboa Park, South Park, Little Italy, Downtown and the Gaslamp District.
The company has not announced service in Mission Valley or Clairemont, despite reported sightings of driverless Waymo vehicles there. Riders must still check the app to determine whether a particular pickup and destination fall within the operating area.
Waymo first began collecting San Diego passengers with special access codes on Sept. 1, following more than a year of local testing. The initial rollout was deliberately gradual, with invitations issued on a rolling basis because vehicle availability was limited, according to NBC 7 San Diego. The California Public Utilities Commission had approved Waymo’s expansion permit a few weeks before the launch.
The company had said its expansion would be gradual and guided by its safety framework. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that the initial service did not include San Diego International Airport, as Waymo was awaiting a city permit.
The all-rider change is a shift in who can book a trip, rather than the start of autonomous service in the city. Waymo announced similar access expansions in San Antonio and Tampa on the same day. San Diego’s earlier rollout drew opposition from the Metropolitan Transit System board, which voted 12-1 in January for a resolution citing possible taxi-driver job losses and safety issues about robotaxi expansion.