Free Waymo rides in California? You can thank a regulatory quirk.

Waymo is operating robotaxi services in Ojai, California without a completed regulatory approval process from the California Public Utilities Commission, according to a report by The Verge. The delay in the PUC's review has created a window where Waymo can operate without certain fee requirements, potentially allowing the company to offer rides at no charge during this period. The regulatory gap exists because the PUC has not finalized its decision on Waymo's application for expanded operations in the area.

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