Following a recent power outage in San Francisco, Waymo has announced plans to enhance its driverless car service to better handle similar situations in the future. The blackout, which occurred on December 16, 2025, affected approximately 130,000 customers and caused significant disruptions, including non-functioning traffic signals and a complete halt of Waymo’s autonomous vehicles on the city’s streets.
The outage was triggered by a fire at a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) substation that led to extensive damage. Videos circulated online showed Waymo vehicles stranded in traffic, prompting the company to proactively direct its fleet to park safely to avoid contributing to the congestion or hindering emergency responders during the chaotic recovery efforts.
In a blog post, Waymo emphasized its commitment to improving the resilience of its service amid infrastructure challenges. The company stated, “We’ve always focused on developing the Waymo Driver for the world as it is, including when infrastructure fails.” It outlined three immediate steps to upgrade its fleet: implementing fleet-wide updates to enhance vehicles’ awareness of regional outages, refining emergency response protocols, and enhancing first responder training through insights gained from the outage.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also noted the city’s response, highlighting the deployment of police and emergency services personnel across neighborhoods affected by the blackout.
Waymo currently operates in several cities, including Austin, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, and has achieved significant milestones, having provided around 14 million rides in 2025 alone. As it continues to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology, the company expressed its dedication to ensuring safe and reliable service for residents and visitors in San Francisco and beyond.
This proactive approach by Waymo not only reflects its commitment to customer safety but also highlights the importance of adaptability in emerging technologies, especially when faced with unexpected challenges.