Inside Waymo’s largest robotaxi depot in San Francisco

In an unassuming corner of San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, hundreds of Waymo robotaxis quietly line up, waiting for routine cleaning, charging, and maintenance. Inside the company’s largest operational depot, human employees ensure the autonomous fleet is always ready to hit the streets, providing millions of rides across the Bay Area.

Business Insider toured the depot, discovering a surprisingly calm environment. Unlike conventional garages, there’s little honking or noise—just the gentle hum of self-driving Jaguars slowly moving into service spots. Workers from third-party contractors like Transdev handle tasks ranging from charging the cars to cleaning interiors, all while donning safety vests to navigate the moving vehicles safely.

The depot is meticulously organized, with tools and materials sorted for efficiency. Towels are tracked by day, whiteboards monitor “productive times,” and every action is timed to minimize downtime, maximizing fleet utilization. Even the robotaxis themselves communicate with the staff: colored symbols on their spinning lidar domes indicate whether they need charging, troubleshooting, or other maintenance.

Inside, the garage handles both routine car care—like brake and fluid replacement—and Waymo-specific tasks, including sensor and lidar maintenance. Spare parts for retrofitted Jaguar I-PACEs are stored outside, while the company also tests its next-generation vehicles, including the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the Ojai EV, which will enter public service later this year.

As autonomous vehicles scale, depots like Bayview are becoming essential fixtures in urban areas. They demonstrate the careful blend of technology and human oversight required to keep a robotaxi fleet running smoothly—and hint at the logistical backbone supporting the future of self-driving transportation.