California DMV Grants Waymo and Cruise Commercial Robotaxi Permits
The California DMV grants Waymo and GM Cruise permits to operate commercial autonomous taxi services in parts of San Francisco, though with different operational restrictions. Cruise immediately gains the ability to carry paying passengers without a driver, while Waymo faces an updated status.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles grants commercial robotaxi permits to both Waymo and GM Cruise, allowing the companies to charge passengers for autonomous rides on public roads. The two companies join Nuro, which previously secured a similar commercial permit for its autonomous delivery robots.
While both companies operate in parts of San Francisco, their permits include distinct operational restrictions. Waymo runs vehicles up to 65 miles per hour around the clock in San Francisco and San Mateo County, whereas Cruise limits its fleet to 30 miles per hour exclusively between 10pm and 6am.
A key difference between the permits lies in passenger status, as Cruise immediately operates with paying passengers and no human driver. Waymo already offers a paid driverless service in Phoenix, Arizona, but currently holds an updated status for its California operations that requires further clarification for carrying paying passengers without a driver.