Following a significant power outage in San Francisco that impacted approximately 130,000 homes, Waymo temporarily halted its autonomous ride-hailing service on Saturday. The outage caused widespread traffic disruptions, as many of Waymo's self-driving vehicles struggled to navigate intersections with non-functioning traffic lights, leading to gridlock in the area.
In response to Waymo's struggles, Tesla CEO Elon Musk pointed out on social media that Tesla's Robotaxis were able to operate without issue during the blackout. Musk shared videos showing a Tesla navigating an intersection with downed traffic lights, contrasting the situation faced by Waymo vehicles.
Waymo later announced it would resume its ride-hailing service after addressing the issues caused by the outage. A company spokesperson emphasized their commitment to enhancing technology that adapts to traffic conditions during such events.
The incident has raised questions about the reliability of autonomous vehicle technology in emergency situations, as the power outage on December 20, 2025, highlighted the challenges faced by driverless cars when standard traffic infrastructure fails.