Waymo and Zoox expand autonomous vehicle operations in California

The autonomous vehicle market is expanding in California as Waymo and Amazon-owned Zoox increase their presence in major urban areas.

Waymo, an Alphabet subsidiary, has received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to expand its operations into the East Bay, including Berkeley. This follows previous authorizations from the California Department of Motor Vehicles for testing and deployment in cities such as Oakland, Fremont, and Hayward. The company indicated that the rollout in the East Bay will be gradual.

Simultaneously, Zoox has deployed its steering-wheel-free, bi-directional robotaxis on the streets of San Francisco. This move places the Amazon-owned unit in direct competition with Waymo in the San Francisco market. Zoox vehicles are designed without traditional pedals or steering wheels and can seat four passengers facing one another. The company recently reached a milestone in Las Vegas, where it began offering paid rides following a government exemption.