Key facts
- Waymo is offering free rides in its new Ojai vehicles in California due to a regulatory delay.
- The company's expansion into new service areas in Northern and Southern California is also on hold.
- Waymo applied in January to expand its service area and add the Ojai cars to its fleet.
- California requires approval from the DMV and CPUC for autonomous vehicles to operate and carry passengers.
Alphabet's subsidiary Waymo is currently offering free rides in its new Ojai robotaxis in California due to a delay in regulatory approval for expansion and passenger fares. The company applied in January to broaden its service area across Northern and Southern California and to add the Chinese-made Ojai vehicles to its fleet. However, a pending decision from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has put these plans on hold. Unlike other states, California requires explicit permission from both the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for autonomous vehicles to operate and the CPUC to carry paying passengers. This regulatory holdup means Waymo cannot yet charge for rides in the Ojai vehicles, which began service last month. Passengers can still be charged for rides in Waymo's Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis, which constitute the majority of its fleet.