Waymo resumes San Francisco robotaxi service following one-hour power outage suspension
Waymo has resumed its San Francisco robotaxi operations after a brief one-hour suspension caused by a local power outage.
1. Service Interruption
On July 18, 2026, Waymo temporarily paused its robotaxi operations in San Francisco. The suspension lasted approximately one hour as the company assessed the impact of a power outage that affected roughly 7,000 PG&E customers in the city. During the pause, Waymo informed customers that service was temporarily unavailable and that freeway routes were restricted.
2. Operational Response
A Waymo spokesperson stated that the company made temporary adjustments to its service to monitor local conditions and coordinate with city officials. The company emphasized its commitment to returning to normal operations as quickly as possible. Following the assessment, Waymo confirmed that service had resumed.
3. Regulatory Context
This incident follows previous instances where power outages caused Waymo vehicles to stall on city streets. These recurring disruptions have drawn scrutiny from local leadership, with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie recently calling for stricter state regulations regarding how autonomous vehicles operate during major incidents.