Keep Your Eyes and App Out as CPUC Approves Waymo’s 6th Generation Robo-Taxi to Drive on the Coastside (and to San Jose, SF and Sacramento)

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EMAIL and WEBPAGES. Email from State of California Public Utiliteis Commission to Waymo, LLC on August 14th, 2026. Webpage from the California Department of Vehicles. Waymo Ojai car experience.

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
August 14, 2026
Mari Davidson, Waymo LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043

SUBJECT: Disposition of Waymo Advice Letter 0004 and 0004-A

Dear Ms. Davidson:
Pursuant to Decision (D.) 20-11-046, as modified by D.21-05-017, and Resolution TL-19137, the Consumer Protection and Enforcement Division (CPED) of the California Public Utilities Commission approves Waymo LLC’s (Waymo) Advice Letter 0004 and supplemental Advice Letter 0004-A. Waymo’s updated Passenger Safety Plan (PSP), submitted in connection with its expanded operational design domain (ODD) for expanded geographic deployment and its Ojai vehicle platform approved by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), is approved.
A status certificate is attached for your records.

On January 28, 2026, Waymo submitted Advice Letter 0004 seeking approval of its updated PSP and thus authorization for expansion of its Driverless Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Deployment service to additional portions of Northern and Southern California and authorization for the use of the Ojai vehicle platform.

San Diego Metropolitan Transit System and San Diego Metropolitan Transit System Taxicab Advisory Committee submitted protests. CPED also received 29 supportive responses. Following a request from CPED staff, Waymo submitted supplemental Advice Letter 0004-A on May 15, 2026, providing additional information on preventing unaccompanied minor riders and procedures related to rider safety during operational disruptions. CPED received eight responses and no protests following a shortened protest period.

Attachment 1 contains further discussion of Waymo’s request, responses from stakeholders, and CPED’s disposition.

Please contact CPED AV Programs staff at AVPrograms@cpuc.ca.gov with any questions.

Sincerely,
Joshua Huneycutt
Manager, Transportation Licensing and Analysis Branch
Consumer Protection & Enforcement Division

Full Disposition Advice Letter

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California Department of Motor Vehicles: “Waymo Approved Areas of Operation for Driverless Testing and Deployment“

San Mateo County

• Brisbane
• Burlingame
• East Palo Alto
• Foster City
• Half Moon Bay <<<<
• Menlo Park
• Pacifica
• Redwood City
• San Mateo
• South San Francisco