The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has reaffirmed the approval it granted Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving tech development unit, to extend its self-driving taxi services from San Francisco to the San Francisco Peninsula and Los Angeles areas.

Despite the CPUC's ruling, which was scheduled to take effect in March , local opposition caused delays in its implementation. Officials in San Mateo County—encompassing the SF Peninsula and Los Angeles—resisted the CPUC's decision, arguing that cities should have more regulatory authority over self-driving car companies.

Analyst QuickTake: Waymo’s expansion into LA comes amid several operational setbacks. The company is currently being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding several safety-related incidents. The company also had two recalls this February and June to fix and upgrade its operational software.