Waymo has opened its Ojai model vans to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco, marking a full rollout of the purpose-built driverless vehicles in those markets. The company announced the expansion in a social media post, highlighting the vans’ spacious interiors and backseat entertainment options as key features for passengers. Earlier this year, Waymo had only offered limited pickups with the Ojai model in the same three cities, so this move broadens access to the general public.
The announcement follows a separate expansion just days prior, when Waymo received permission to bring its driverless cars to Sacramento and San Diego. That approval signals continued growth for the Google-owned brand across California, though the Ojai model’s name carries an ironic twist. Waymo does not currently operate in Ojai, California, despite the vehicle’s moniker, meaning the city referenced in the product name remains outside the service area.
Waymo’s recent history includes some operational setbacks that have drawn attention. In November, the company introduced freeway rides as an option for routes in select cities, but it suspended highway service in May after a recall. The recall followed incidents in which some of its fleet drove into closed construction zones, raising safety concerns. Waymo restored freeway access to its robotaxis in July, just over a month before this latest van rollout.
The Ojai model launch in the three cities represents a step forward for Waymo’s broader robotaxi strategy, as the vans are designed specifically for passenger use rather than adapted from existing vehicles. With the full availability in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, riders in those metropolitan areas can now hail the vans without any prior restrictions. The company’s focus on spaciousness and entertainment appears aimed at differentiating the Ojai experience from standard sedan-based robotaxis.
For US consumers, the expansion touches on the ongoing shift toward autonomous ride-hailing services in major urban centers, particularly with the added freeway access and new city approvals. Waymo’s recent regulatory wins in Sacramento and San Diego suggest further geographic growth may follow, though the company has not detailed specific timelines for those launches. As the fleet rebounds from the spring’s construction zone incidents, the restored highway operations and now-complete Ojai rollout signal an attempt to rebuild momentum with a broader rider base.
