San Francisco Power Outage Paralyzes Waymo Fleet

A power outage in san Francisco on Saturday initially left 124,000 of 414,000 customers-about 30%-without electricity. Teh outage also triggered a meaningful disruption to Waymo’s robotaxi service, effectively immobilizing the entire active fleet within the city.

Power outage took out the waymos RIP pic.twitter.com/DPte8oOGku

– Vincent Woo (@fulligin) December 21, 2025

Reports and social media posts indicate that Waymo robotaxis became stranded in intersections, creating traffic blockages across several streets. The vehicles appeared to enter a stalled state, unable to navigate or respond to changing traffic conditions without power to supporting infrastructure.

Waymo spokesperson Suzanne Philion issued a statement around 7:00 p.m., confirming the temporary suspension of service. “We are focused on keeping our riders safe and ensuring emergency personnel have the clear access they need to do their work,” Philion stated.

6 Waymo’s parked at a broken traffic light in the Richmond. This is what happens when you rely on the grid. pic.twitter.com/wJq9q9qJ9q

– Alex (@alxndr_s) December 21, 2025

The incident highlights the dependence of autonomous vehicle systems on reliable infrastructure, including a stable power grid. While Waymo has safety protocols in place, the scale of the outage overwhelmed the system’s ability to manage the situation effectively. The event raises questions about the resilience of autonomous fleets in the face of widespread disruptions and the need for robust backup systems.

Key Takeaways

• A San Francisco power outage impacted approximately 30% of customers.
• The outage caused all active waymo robotaxis in the city to become inoperable.
• Stranded vehicles blocked traffic in multiple locations.
• Waymo temporarily suspended service to prioritize safety and emergency access.
• The incident demonstrates the vulnerability of autonomous systems to infrastructure failures.

Publication Date: 2025/12/21 15:54:20