Can Waymo taxis run during a power cut?

They can operate on onboard sensors and compute, but service quality can drop if mobile networks or traffic signals fail. Expect slower driving, safe stops in some areas, and longer waits. Charging can also be limited if depots or public fast chargers lose power, reducing fleet availability until backup power is in place.

How would autonomous vehicles handle an earthquake?

Best practice is to slow down, pull to a safe kerbside spot, and prioritise emergency vehicles. After the shaking, the fleet should block risky routes, avoid bridges and tunnels until cleared, and update maps before resuming normal service. Clear passenger messaging and options to end the trip safely are essential.

What should cities require before approving robotaxis?

Cities should demand a tested resilience plan for outages and quakes, proof of safe behavior at dark signals, backup power for charging, and robust incident reporting. Independent audits and drills, plus service-level commitments, help protect riders and the public while giving regulators confidence to scale permits over time.

Why does this matter for UK investors?

Resilience affects approvals, utilisation, and margins. Requirements for backup power, audits, and strict operating rules raise costs but can speed trust and deployment. Investors should track safety cases, results from outage drills, and any permit changes following the San Francisco blackout to judge scaling prospects in UK cities.

Global Market Insights

Waymo Taxis in Blackouts: Can AVs Handle Quakes? December 23

ByHuzaifa Zahoor December 24, 2025December 24, 2025

Waymo taxis are under the spotlight after the San Francisco blackout raised hard questions about autonomous vehicle safety in power cuts and earthquakes. For UK investors, this matters because resilience drives approvals, costs, and rollout pace in big cities. Today, 23 December, we look at how outages and quakes could test robotaxis, the likely regulatory response, and what this could mean for long‑term margins and deployment plans in dense urban markets similar to London and Manchester.