Temecula is now among the select cities in Riverside County where Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Google's parent company Alphabet, can operate its fleet of self-driving cars without a human driver behind the wheel.
According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Waymo has received approval to conduct driverless testing and deployment operations at all times of day and night, in all rain, fog, and other weather conditions, and at all speeds ca within Temecula's city limits.
The approval extends to Waymo's Jaguar I-Pace models from 2021 and 2024, as well as Zeekr RT models from 2022 and 2025 ca.
What This Means for Temecula
Residents may soon spot Waymo's distinctive vehicles navigating local streets as the company tests and refines its autonomous driving technology. The vehicles use a combination of cameras, sensors, and artificial intelligence to navigate roads without human intervention.
In Riverside County, Temecula joins several other cities in the approved testing area, including Murrieta, Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Lake Elsinore, Norco, Riverside, Wildomar, and the Pechanga Reservation.
Statewide Expansion
Waymo's approval spans across much of California, including major metropolitan areas in the Bay Area, Los Angeles County, Orange County, Sacramento, and San Diego County. The company has already been operating driverless vehicles in parts of San Francisco and Los Angeles, and this expansion brings the technology to additional communities throughout the state.
The DMV's approval represents a significant milestone in the development of autonomous vehicle technology in California, which has positioned itself as a testing ground for self-driving innovations.
Temecula residents who encounter Waymo vehicles on local roads can expect to see the cars operating autonomously, though the company maintains remote monitoring capabilities and safety protocols for all driverless operations.