California Clears Waymo and Cruise to Launch Commercial Robotaxi Services
The California DMV grants new permits that allow Waymo and Cruise to charge passengers for autonomous rides, bringing fully driverless taxis closer to reality.
California takes a major step toward a driverless future as the state Department of Motor Vehicles grants crucial permits to Waymo and Cruise. These new authorizations allow the companies to charge passengers for rides in their autonomous vehicles, moving beyond simple testing into actual commercial operations. Final approval from the California Public Utilities Commission remains the only hurdle before these robotaxis officially hit the streets.
The permits come with distinct operational boundaries for each company. Cruise operates completely driverless vehicles in designated parts of San Francisco between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. at speeds up to 30 mph in light rain or fog. Waymo maintains a broader daytime and evening footprint across parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties, allowing speeds up to 65 mph, though its permit still requires the presence of human safety supervisors inside the vehicles.
This regulatory milestone highlights the different approaches and progress levels within the self-driving industry. Cruise earns the distinction of being the first autonomous ride-hail company to secure a driverless deployment permit in California, while Waymo proceeds with a more cautious, supervised model. Both companies view this development as a critical validation of their technology and a significant leap toward making urban transportation safer and more accessible.