Waymo's Driverless Rides Soar in California: From Novelty to Normality

Waymo's driverless car rides are booming in California. The number of paid trips in March 2025 exceeded 700,000, showing a 27% increase. This rapid growth reflects the shift from novelty to normalcy in the adoption of self-driving technology. "The weirdest part wasn't the empty driver's seat," said Ben Cohen, a WSJ columnist, recounting his experience. "It was how quickly the experience no longer felt weird." This trend is particularly pronounced in San Francisco, where Waymo cars are becoming more of a tourist attraction than cable cars. The California Public Utilities Commission data supports this growth. This rapid expansion indicates a significant step towards the mainstream adoption of autonomous vehicles.