Santa Monica to Host 150 Robotaxis in City Garages

The city will store autonomous vehicle fleets in parking structures to generate revenue and keep them off local streets.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Electric Vehicles

Isometric editorial illustration of autonomous vehicle silhouettes parked in a concrete structure, representing municipal storage policy. — The Santa Monica City Council approved an agreement to store 150 autonomous robotaxis in municipal parking structures to boost city revenue. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your local government lease unused public parking space to private autonomous vehicle companies?

The Santa Monica City Council voted 6-0 to pursue a pilot agreement allowing Zoox to store up to 150 electric robotaxis in city-owned parking structures. This program aims to utilize unused space in facilities like the Main Library parking structure while generating at least $500,000 in annual revenue.

Why it matters

The city intends to use these storage agreements to prevent autonomous vehicle fleets from staging in residential areas. By shifting vehicle parking to underutilized city structures, officials hope to manage traffic flow while securing a new municipal revenue stream.

The one-year pilot arrangement proposes storing 150 robotaxis across city-owned facilities, including the Main Library parking structure. The city anticipates this program will generate $500,000 or more in annual revenue.

The players

Zoox

An autonomous vehicle developer and subsidiary of Amazon that operates electric robotaxi fleets.

Santa Monica City Council

The local governing body responsible for municipal land use, budget management, and city ordinance enforcement.

The details

The program authorizes city staff to implement parking terms administratively to store autonomous vehicles in designated areas like the Main Library garage. To support these operations, the parking facilities will remain open overnight and function strictly as storage and staging zones rather than charging depots. By concentrating the fleet in these structures, the city aims to keep the autonomous taxis out of local neighborhoods.

October 13, 2026: City Council voted to authorize negotiations with Zoox.

The Home Front

This program reflects a broader trend among municipalities attempting to regulate the storage of commercial autonomous vehicle fleets. The initiative serves as a test case for balancing municipal revenue needs with residential traffic management goals.

Residents should anticipate increased nighttime activity at city parking facilities once the pilot program begins. Keep an eye on local city council updates to see if your neighborhood is near a designated staging zone for autonomous vehicle operations.

The takeaway

Santa Monica is opening public parking structures for autonomous vehicle storage to generate revenue and reduce residential street congestion. Interested residents can track the progress of this one-year pilot program through city council meeting records.