A blackout in San Francisco revealed a new way for robotaxis to go wrong. Waymo’s self-driving robotaxis can successfully nail a tricky left turn, weave through lanes to drop you off at the airport, and safely pass a U-Haul that’s idling in the middle of the street. But during a blackout, they apparently turn into four-wheel bricks.

The biggest stories of the year, with no surprise, the Waymo and Tesla constrast playing a big role in the year's news.

Saturday brought dystopian scenes of robot cars parked in thoroughfares with hazard lights flashing and angry motorists honking.

Waymo has filed suit against the city of Santa Monica, arguing that the city's attempt to have them stop using two charging stations overnight for its fleet of self-driving cars is unfair.

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH / ACCESS Newswire / December 23, 2025 / Recent service disruptions involving Waymo autonomous vehicles in San Francisco have drawn attention to a core challenge in autonomous mobility: dependence on a single network or network access technology.

Uber plans to begin testing in the first half of 2026. Lyft also hopes to start tests next year, once it gets the necessary regulatory nods.