Waymo Adds 80 Square Miles Of LA To Its Coverage Area

LOS ANGELES, CA — The world's first automated taxi company, Waymo, just expanded its service area in Los Angeles, the company announced.

Beginning Wednesday, the robotaxis will be able to travel more than 120 miles of LA County from Santa Monica to downtown and from West Hollywood to Inglewood, according to Alphabet, Google's parent company.

Until this week, the service, Waymo One, only covered 89 square miles in Los Angeles.

On June 18, the neighborhoods of Playa del Rey, Ladera Heights, Echo Park, Silverlake and the whole stretch of Sunset Boulevard will be serviced, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The news comes just days after several vehicles in the company's fleet were damaged and set on fire during anti-ICE protests in downtown LA.

Meanwhile, across the state, Bay Area riders will be able to travel the San Francisco Peninsula, Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Mountain View. The expansion also covers South San Francisco, Millbrae, San Bruno and Burlingame beginning Tuesday, June 17, The Verge reported.

In all, the robotaxis will now operate across 250 square miles of the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

California regulators first allowed the company to send its driverless cars out on the road in San Francisco in 2023. Waymo is now competing with ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft in the Golden State.

The company says Waymo riders previously surveyed in LA reported that 98% were satisfied with the service and 96% found it useful.

“When I rode alone and with some of our single mother families, we were amazed by the driverless technology and the sense of comfort it provided. Access to Waymo could be a game-changer for women we serve, offering a nonjudgmental, reliable transportation option that prioritizes safety,” said Tisha Janigan, founder of She is Hope, in a previous Waymo blog post.

Next, Waymo looks to expand to Atlanta, Miami and Washington D.C.