LA Citizens Now Can Ride Waymo\’s Robotaxi—No Driver Needed

Waymo’s Robotaxi Rollout Is Officially Everywhere in Los Angeles

What’s Happening?

Good news for anyone who’s been stuck in a wait‑list shuffle of 300,000 names: the Alphabet‑backed Waymo can now take you from anywhere to anywhere in L.A. No more waiting, just a tap on the Waymo One app every Tuesday.

Coverage That’s Growing Fast

Right now the service covers roughly 80 square miles across Los Angeles County, stretching from the neon‑bright corners of downtown to the sunny vibes in Santa Monica. You’ll find Waymo’s robots along Miracle Mile, Koreatown, Westwood, and West Hollywood and ready to whisk you to your next destination.

How Waymo Got Here

• 2019 – Waymo first started mapping pockets of L.A., turning city streets into a digital playground for autonomous vehicles.
• 2022 – The company announced that L.A. will join Phoenix and San Francisco as its next big commercial markets.
• August 2023 – California’s Public Utilities Commission granted the final permits to launch commercial service in San Francisco.
• March 2024 – CPUC cleared Waymo to offer robotaxi rides not only in L.A. but also expanded Bay Area territories, including the San Francisco Peninsula and key freeways.
• June 2024 – Waymo finally broke the little “wait‑list” tie for San Francisco riders.
• Last week – Waymo announced a fresh $5.6 billion Series C funding wave led by Alphabet and backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Silver Lake, Fidelity, Tiger Global, Perry Creek, and T. Rowe Price.

Why This Matters

The new capital shot Waymo’s valuation past the $45 billion milestone, making it one of the most valuable self‑driving firms around. Alphabet had already pledged an additional $5 billion in July, hinting at a multi‑year commitment to keep the robots rolling.

In Short…

Forget the days of waiting hoops. L.A. residents can now hop onto Waymo’s robotaxi services whenever they wish—no lines, just drivers made of steel and software. The city’s streets just got a little bit smarter, and a lot more convenient (and who knows? Maybe you’ll get somewhere really fast before your lunch finishes on your own.)