Baby Born Inside Waymo Driverless Taxi En Route to San Francisco Hospital
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — In a remarkable first for autonomous transportation, a pregnant woman gave birth inside a Waymo driverless taxi while en route to the hospital in San Francisco. The incident occurred on December 11, 2025, when the woman was traveling to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center, a leading hospital known for its advanced maternity care.
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company pioneering self-driving technology, confirmed the birth and provided details about the extraordinary event. According to the company, the woman unexpectedly went into labor during the ride, and the baby was born in the back seat before the vehicle reached its destination. The company’s Rider Support Team, monitoring the trip remotely, detected unusual activity inside the vehicle and promptly contacted emergency services by dialing 911.
By the time the taxi arrived at UCSF, the newborn was already in the arms of the mother. A Waymo spokesperson told KRON-TV, “We’re proud to be a trusted ride for moments big and small, serving riders from just seconds old to many years young. We wish the new family all the best, and we look forward to safely getting them where they’re going through many of life’s events.”
Following the birth, the vehicle was immediately removed from service for thorough cleaning, as confirmed in a statement to KTVU-TV. This incident highlights the growing role of autonomous vehicles in everyday life, including critical and unexpected moments.
Waymo’s driverless taxis have been operating in San Francisco and other cities for several years, offering rides without human drivers under strict safety protocols. The company’s ability to monitor rides in real time and coordinate with emergency responders was crucial in ensuring the safety and well-being of both mother and child during this unprecedented situation.
The UCSF Medical Center, part of the University of California system, is recognized nationally for its maternity and neonatal care programs. The hospital’s expertise likely contributed to the smooth handling of the situation once the vehicle arrived.
As autonomous vehicle technology continues to evolve, this event underscores the importance of integrating responsive safety and support systems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) oversees regulations related to driverless cars, emphasizing safety and emergency response readiness.
Waymo’s incident also raises questions about the future of emergency medical protocols in autonomous transport, a subject of interest for agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which monitor public health and safety in evolving transportation contexts.
While rideshare and taxi services have occasionally reported births en route to hospitals, this marks one of the first documented cases involving a fully autonomous vehicle. The seamless coordination between the vehicle’s remote support team and emergency responders exemplifies the potential benefits of integrating technology with healthcare and public safety infrastructure.
For now, the new family is reportedly doing well, and Waymo has reiterated its commitment to safely transporting passengers through all of life’s milestones. This extraordinary birth in the back of a driverless car may well be a glimpse into the future of urban mobility and emergency care combined.
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