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

Robotaxi companies have thrived in California, where the good weather, enthusiasm for technology, and sophisticated labor force have supported their growth for nearly two decades. But a delayed decision from a state regulatory agency is now slowing Alphabet’s subsidiary Waymo, the US leader in driverless robotaxi service. The holdup means that Waymo isn’t yet allowed to expand into parts of Northern and Southern California.