California Regulatory Delay Keeps Waymo Ojai Rides Free
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- Waymo rides in its "Ojai" robotaxi are free through at least September 25 because the CPUC hasn't approved the vehicle for paid service.
- The CPUC asked in May for more information on emergency response (after December's SF power outage stranded 60+ Waymos) and on preventing unaccompanied minors from riding.
- Waymo applied in January to expand from Sea Ranch and Sacramento down to San Jose in the north, and from Los Angeles past Thousand Oaks and Santa Clarita to the Tijuana border past San Diego in the south.
- The Ojai is Waymo's first purpose-built driverless taxi, manufactured by Chinese company Zeekr and equipped with 13 cameras, 6 radar systems, and 4 lidar sensors.
- Waymo says the Ojai sidesteps a ban on Chinese-connected automotive tech set for next year because only the vehicle shell is made in China; connected systems are built and added in the US.
- Waymo continues charging for rides in its Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis, which make up the majority of its fleet.
- A labor union representing ride-hail drivers filed a formal complaint with the CPUC about unaccompanied minors riding in Waymos, triggering new regulatory questions.
Why it matters: California's strict dual-permission system (DMV plus CPUC) creates this free-ride window — other states let robotaxis launch and start charging with minimal oversight. The same backlog also blocks Waymo's planned expansion to Sacramento, Thousand Oaks, Santa Clarita, and the San Diego border region, potentially slowing its growth in the largest US robotaxi market while competitors face fewer regulatory gates elsewhere.
