Autonomous Vehicles: DMV greenlights Waymo driverless taxis to expand services across Bay Area and beyond

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Waymo is getting the green light to test and eventually expand its driverless taxi service across the entire Bay Area and beyond.

The DMV gave the go-ahead Friday to the company to launch the robotaxis in the North Bay, East Bay and eastward to Sacramento.

Right now, the robotaxis are giving rides from San Francisco down to the South Bay.

But you can’t order a ride from the city to the other side of the bay just yet.

“It’s a milestone. It’s a major milestone for Waymo. They are trying very hard to cover the whole state,” said Ahmed Banafa, tech expert and professor at San Jose State University. “This is just confirming that California is the cradle for technology, and this kind of technology should expand here and people should get a taste of driverless or robotaxis.”

MORE: Waymo’s self-driving cars hitting Bay Area freeways, expanding to San Jose

But he says the expansion won’t be without its challenges.

“There are so many challenges they’re going to face. Scaling, you know, whatever. So far, they have to have manufacturing workers. They have to, you know, modify many, many other cars. So, it’s coming to the whole state,” Banafa said. “The other thing is safety. It’s a big concern, safety. The issue with the driverless taxis, or robotaxis, one incident is high profile.”

Waymo responded to the approval in a statement, reading in part: “We appreciate the DMV’s approval of our expanded fully autonomous operations. We’re proud to provide over one million safe, reliable, magical rides every month in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and we’re looking forward to opening our service to more Californians.”

Waymos are already being spotted in the East Bay. Photos were taken in Alameda, where the people we spoke with had mixed feelings about riding in the robotaxis.

“Maybe, you know, if it becomes cheaper than, like, Lyft driver services, then maybe. But if not, I don’t think so,” said resident Patrick Phan.

MORE: Zoox autonomous taxis welcoming first riders in San Francisco

“I think I’ll be, like, too skeptical to use it, because, like, would something happen?” said Courtney Lewis from Alameda. “No, I wouldn’t use it. I wouldn’t. I just don’t think I would.”

“I think it’s cool,” said Teira Starling. “I think I won’t use it, but I would like to see it passing with nobody driving in it.”

Waymo isn’t saying when service will begin in these new areas.

The company still needs to go through the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates the rates for riders.