California Grants Waymo and Cruise Commercial Robotaxi Permits
The California DMV issues commercial deployment permits to Waymo and GM Cruise, allowing them to charge passengers for autonomous rides in San Francisco. The two companies operate under distinct restrictions regarding speed, hours, and passenger capabilities.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles grants commercial operation permits to both Waymo and GM Cruise, allowing the companies to charge fees for autonomous ride-hailing services on public roads. This pivotal approval enables both companies to expand their commercial robotaxi footprints within designated parts of San Francisco, joining autonomous delivery company Nuro as the only current holders of such permits in the state.
Despite receiving simultaneous approval, the two companies operate under significantly different operational constraints. Waymo runs its lightweight vehicles around the clock at speeds up to 65 mph, while Cruise limits its service to nighttime hours between 10pm and 6am with a maximum speed of 30 mph. Both fleets operate in good weather conditions, including light rain and fog, and utilize vehicles weighing under 10,001 pounds.
A major distinction between the newly issued permits is that Cruise immediately gains the ability to transport paying passengers without a human driver present in the vehicle. Waymo currently uses this California permit to operate with safety drivers, though the company already offers fully driverless paid rides in Phoenix, Arizona. To secure these permits, both companies must strictly verify that their technology detects and responds to roadway situations in compliance with state vehicle codes and meets SAE Level 3, 4, or 5 autonomous standards.