Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle company, suspended its robotaxi service in San Francisco on Saturday, December 20, 2025, after a major power outage crippled the city's infrastructure. A fire at a PG&E substation led to a widespread blackout that affected up to 130,000 customers and disabled traffic signals across numerous neighborhoods.
The non-functional traffic lights caused Waymo's self-driving cars to stall at intersections, leading to significant traffic congestion. In response to the vehicles obstructing roadways and to ensure the safety of its riders and clear access for emergency personnel, Waymo voluntarily paused its ride-hailing operations.