I’ll admit that when I hear stories about babies who were born in a parking lot or in the car on the way to the hospital, I feel a kinship to them as someone who was almost born in the car myself. Although these stories never cease to bring a smile to my face, the latest one really takes the cake. A mom in San Francisco gave birth to her baby in the back of a Waymo. The driverless cars are gaining popularity around the country as an alternative to rideshares and taxis. Giving birth in a driverless car seems like an unbelievable experience, and the family will certainly have quite a story to tell in the future!
The event took place the night of December 8, 2025, WABC reported. According to a Waymo representative, the woman was already in labor when she got into the car. She was heading to UCSF Medical Center to have her baby. No one else was reported to be in the car with her.
As she made her way to the hospital, the car’s remote Rider Support Team detected “unusual activity” in the car. They reached out to the rider, who informed them about what was happening. After that, they called 911 while the car kept going on its route to the hospital.
Shockingly, the mom and her newborn made it to the hospital before first responders could catch up with them.
“This is not the first baby to be born inside a Waymo vehicle,” the company shared in a statement. “While it’s a rare occurrence… some of our newest riders just can’t wait to experience their first ride.”
The company shared a different statement with KRON4.
“We’re proud to be a trusted ride for moments big and small, serving riders from just seconds old to many years young,” the company wrote. “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.” The outlet reported that the company took the car out of service so it could be cleaned.
