On today’s self-steering episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at Waymo’s westward expansion into 18 new California counties – a move the company believes will power it to more than one MILLION paid rides by the end of the year.

Waymo has won approval to expand its services in California to encompass all speeds, all zones, and all weather service for the majority of California’s population. When considered alongside the rapid expansion of robotaxi inventory at the company’s Mesa conversion facility, it sure does look like Waymo is scaling in a big, big way.

• Waymo wins California approval to expand robotaxis across 18 counties
• Waymo has nearly 1,000 robotaxis waiting at its Arizona factory
• Waymo adds Google’s Gemini AI assistant and new UI to Ojai robotaxi
• GM is now testing eyes-off self-driving tech in its biggest EV
• Cadillac will hand-build a custom Escalade IQ for you, but it will cost an extra $55,000

Today’s episode is sponsored by GM Energy Pass, a new feature that simplifies your drive, from daily commutes to epic road trips. By bringing charging options together in one place, we make it easy for you to find charging stations and plug in your EV. Plus, you can access large public charging networks—bringing you peace of mind on every drive. Learn more at GM Energy.

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