Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company, announced Wednesday that its electric Zeekr minivans will begin fully driverless testing in San Diego within weeks — removing the human safety operator from the front seat for the first time as the company pushes to launch its ride-hailing service in the city by year’s end.
The transition marks a significant step for San Diego’s transportation landscape. After months of mapping and testing with a human behind the wheel, Waymo’s vehicles will navigate city streets and freeways autonomously, collecting data in neighborhoods including Pacific Beach, Normal Heights, Point Loma, South Crest, Bankers Hill, and Hillcrest — though not as far north as La Jolla.
“Don’t be shocked if you’re stopped at a traffic light and a car without a human behind the wheel pulls up next to you,” the company told the San Diego Union-Tribune. During the testing phase, all rides will be limited to Waymo employees. The company expects to open service to the public by late 2026.
San Diego is one of several cities — including Las Vegas, Denver, and Tampa — where Waymo is advancing to driverless mode. The company is already fully operational in 11 cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Dallas, with a network spanning more than 1,800 square miles. When fully launched, San Diegans will be able to hail a Waymo robo-taxi 24/7 via a mobile app.
However, the expansion faces local pushback. In January, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) passed a resolution opposing the expansion of Waymo’s robo-taxis, calling for more local control over autonomous vehicle deployment. City Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, who also chairs the Taxi Advisory Committee, has been an outspoken critic.
“Allowing autonomous passenger services without guardrails opens the door to expansion into trucking and delivery, threatening even more workers whose livelihoods depend on driving,” Elo-Rivera said during an MTS board meeting. “Autonomous vehicles don’t just change how people move. They literally replace people.”
Critics have raised concerns about job losses, safety issues, and incidents involving robotaxis blocking first responders. Waymo vehicles were involved in a large traffic jam on July 4 in San Francisco, where at least a dozen cars stalled after a fireworks display and some needed to be towed.
Waymo defends its safety record, citing data showing its vehicles were involved in 94% fewer crashes causing serious or fatal injury compared to human drivers in the same areas. The company says it has been working with local organizations — including the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation, the San Diego Center for the Blind, and Circulate San Diego — to inform the public about the technology.
Waymo has also scheduled trainings with the San Diego Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and San Diego Fire-Rescue. Mayor Todd Gloria supports the expansion, saying the city is “exploring how to make transportation more accessible, more sustainable, and more connected for everyone in our community.”
The state — through the California Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Motor Vehicles — holds permitting authority for driverless vehicles, not local governments. This means MTS’s resolution is largely symbolic, and Waymo can proceed with its rollout regardless of local opposition.
For San Diego’s business community, the arrival of autonomous ride-hailing presents both opportunities and challenges. Real estate developers and hospitality businesses may benefit from improved transportation options, while taxi companies and ride-share drivers face a new competitive threat that could reshape the local transportation labor market.
